Herbs & Herbal Remedies @ Green Papaya

There are no reports of toxicity from skullcap infusions, but large amounts of the tincture can cause confusion, giddiness, twitching, and possibly convulsions.

The FDA lists skullcap as an herb of “undefined safety.” For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, skullcap is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.

Skullcap should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If skullcap causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Sedatives from the Garden

Many skullcap species grow in Europe, but the American herb is the one used in herbal Healing. It’s sometimes called Virginia skullcap, but it grows all over the United States and southern Canada.

Skullcap is a slender, 2-foot, branching, square-stemmed perennial with opposite, serrated leaves. The flowers have two lips. The upper lip includes an elongated caplike appendage, which is the source of most of the herb’s popular names.

Skullcap may be propagated by seeds or root divisions planted in early spring. Thin seedlings to 6-inch spacing. Skullcap grows in any well-drained soil under full sun and requires little care. Although it is a perennial, skullcap rarely lives longer than three years.

Harvest the leaves in midsummer.

Not Exactly Empty

Family: Cruciferae; (includes Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower)

Genus and Species: Capsella Bursapastoris

Also known as: Lady’s Purse, Rattle Pouches, Rattle Weed

Parts used: Leaves and flower tops

Shepherds never get much respect. In the ancient world, theirs was a humble calling. And in the Old West. cattle ranchers looked down on “sheep herders.” So perhaps we should not be surprised that the herb named for shepherds has shared a similar fate.

Sadly Rejected

More than 300 years ago, Nicholas Culpeper wrote: “Few plants possess greater virtues than this, and yet it is utterly disregarded.” And as recently as 1988, the British scientific herb guide, Potter’s New Cyclopaedia of Botal1ical Drugs, bemoaned the lack of research into its effects. No one is interested, some authorities say, because this common weed is medically worthless. But the few scientific studies done to date have revealed some intriguing possibilities fortreating bleeding and inducing labor.

Ancient Greek and Roman physicians recommended shepherd’s purse seeds as a laxative. But it was not widely used until the 16th century, when an Italian physician promoted it to stop bleeding, particularly to eliminate blood in the urine. Some physicians adopted the plant, but most others dismissed it as worthless.

The Pilgrims introduced shepherd’s purse into North America, where it quickly became a weed. Folk herbalists used it to stop bleeding, while physicians generally dismissed it as useless.

Fresh or Dried?

The Eclectic text, King’s American Dispensatory, attempted to explain the shepherd’s purse controversy by observing “the fresh herb is decidedly more active than the dried.” King’s called it “very efficient” for treating bloody urine and recommended it to stop excessive menstrual flow, and to treat diarrhea, dysentery, and bleeding hemorrhoids.

During World War I, when other blood stoppers were in short supply, wounded soldiers were given shepherd’s purse tea.

Contemporary herbalists recommend dried shepherd’s purse- not the fresh herb–internally for bloody urine, nosebleeds, bleeding after childbirth, and diarrhea, and externally as an astringent to treat wounds and hemorrhoids.

This herb won’t set the herbal Healing world on fire, but it may help some people with gastrointestinal disorders, women with heavy menstrual flow, or pregnant women waiting to go into labor-if they can stomach its taste.

Bleeding - Shepherd’s purse contains substances that hasten the coagulation of blood, according to an article in the British journal Nature. German medical herbalist Rudolph Fritz Weiss, M.D., writes it “definitely has haemostatic [blood-stopping] properties … [but they are] not very great.”

First-aid authorities recommend treating bleeding with sustained pressure on the wound. Blood in phlegm, urine, or stool requires prompt professional treatment. Shepherd’s purse is no substitute for standard treatments. However, people with ulcers, colitis, Crohn’s disease, or bleeding disorders or women with heavy menstrual flow might try shepherd’s purse in consultation with their physicians, and see if it helps.

Labor Inducer - Shepherd’s purse also contains some substances that may help stimulate uterine contractions as effectively as the drug oxytocin (Pitocin). Oxytocin is often given to trigger labor. Pregnant women should not use shepherd’s purse, except at term and in consultation with their physicians.

Astringent - The herb also has some minor anti-inflammatory astringent action, lending some credence to its traditional uses for wounds and hemorrhoids.

Rx for Shepherd’s Purse

To possibly help stop bleeding or hasten labor, use I teaspoon of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink up to 2 cups a day. The taste of shepherd’s purse is biting and unpleasant. Add sugar. honey, and lemon, or mix it with an herbal beverage blend to improve flavor.

In a tincture, use ¼ to ½ teaspoon up to twice a day. Shepherd’s purse should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with lowstrength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

If this herb does in fact stop bleeding, no one is sure exactly how. It might strengthen blood vessel walls. Or it might stimulate clotting. Internal blood clotting may trigger heart disease, stroke, or thromboembolism. Those with a history of these conditions should not take shepherd’s purse.

To use shepherd’s purse externally on wounds or hemorrhoids, soak a clean cloth in either an infusion or tincture. The medical literature contains no reports of harm from this herb.

Other Cautions

For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who have no history of heart attack, stroke, or thromboembolism, shepherd’s purse is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.

Shepherd’s purse should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If shepherd’s purse causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you ex-perience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Don’t Let the Contents Spill

Shepherd’s purse is a foul-smelling annual that reaches 18 inches. Its slender stem rises from a rosette of deeply toothed leaves similar to dandelion. The stem bears a few small leaves and terminates in small white flowers. The fruits are wedgeshaped seed pods, containing literally thousands of yellow seeds, hence the herb’s names.

Shepherd’s purse grows easily from seeds planted in spring under full sun. It prefers well-drained sandy loam but tolerates most North American soils. If unchecked, it can become a garden and lawn pest To avoid this, clip the seed pods before they open. The young leaves have a peppery taste and may be added to soups and stews or eaten like spinach.

Harvest the leaves and flower tops as the flowers open.

A Powerful Laxative

Family: Caesalpinioideae; (includes Brazilwood)

Genus and Species: Cassia Senna, C. Acutifolia (Alexandrian and Khartoum), C. Angustifolia (Indian or Tinnevelly), C. Marilandica (American)

Also known as: Cassia

Parts used: Leaflets, seed pods

Senna is a powerful laxative-so powerful, in fact, that many authorities call it a cathartic. Arab physicians first wrote of its bowel-stimulating action in the 9th century, but their descriptions suggest it had been widely used for centuries from the Middle East to India.

Senna was introduced into European herbal Healing before the Crusades and has been widely used ever since.

Internal Cleanser

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper, who came close to prescribing every herb for every ill, could not resist claiming senna “cleanses the stomach, purges melancholy and phlegm from the head, brain, lungs, heart, liver, and spleen, cleansing those parts of evil humour; strengthens the senses, procures mirth, purifies the blood [treats venereal diseaseJ, and is also good in chronic agues [fevers].” Other herbalists generally recommended senna only as a laxative.

The American Indians recognized native American senna’s laxative action but used it primarily to treat fever. The 19th-century Eclectics, influenced by Indian medicine, called senna “very useful in all forms of febrile [fever-producing] diseases in which laxative action is desired.”

Contemporary herbalists all tout senna’s laxative action but warn of its terrible taste and side effects-primarily intestinal cramps.

Not for Toast

Both senna and cinnamon come from trees with peelable bark, in Arabic, quetsiah, meaning to cut, which became cassia in English. Both are sometimes called cassia today. But these two herbs have very different actions and should not be confused.

Senna does not treat fever, nor does it “purge melancholy and procure mirth.” Quite the contrary. If you’re not careful with this herb, you’ll live to regret using it.

Laxative - Like aloe, buckthorn, and cascara sagrada, senna contains chemicals that stimulate the colon (anthraquinones). The herb is an ingredient in many over-thecounter laxatives: Fletcher’s Castoria, Gentlax, Sennexon, Senokap, Senolax, Black Draught, Innerclean Herbal Laxative, and Dr. Caldwell’s Senna Laxative.

Senna and the other anthraquinone laxatives, however, should be considered a last resort for constipation. First, increase the fiber in your diet, drink more fluids, and exercise more. If that doesn’t work, try the bulk-forming laxative, psyllium. If that doesn’t help, try a gentler anthraquinone, cascara sagrada. And if you still need relief, try senna in consulation with your physician.

Rx for Senna

Because of senna’s disgusting taste, herbalists generally discourage using the plant Material and instead recommend over-the-counter products containing it.

Those game enough to try the unprocessed herb can brew an infusion from 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink up to 1 cup a day in the morning or before bed for no more than a few days. The taste of senna is nauseating; add sugar, honey, and lemon, and mix it with such taste-masking herbs as anise, fennel, peppermint, chamomile, ginger, coriander, cardamon, and licorice.

Some sources say the pods have milder action. Steep four pods in a cup of warm water for 6 to 12 hours. Drink up to 1 cup a day in the morning or before bed for no more than a few days.

In a tincture, use ½ to 1 teaspoon in the morning or before bed for no more than a few days.

Senna should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with a low-strength preparation and increase strength if necessary.

Senna’s powerful action means it should not be used by those with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcers, colitis, or hemorrhoids.

Pregnant and nursing women should not take senna. Senna should never be used for more than two weeks because over time it causes lazy bowel syndrome, which is an inability to move stool without chemical stimulation.

Large amounts of senna cause diarrhea, nausea, and severe cramps with possible dehydration.

Long-term use may cause enlargement of the fingertips (clubbing). An article in Lancet described this effect in a woman who had taken up to 40 senna laxative tablets a day for years. Her fingers returned to normal when she stopped using the herb.

Senna leaves may cause a skin rash in sensitive individuals.

Other Cautions

The Food and Drug Administration considers senna an herb of “undefined safety.” For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, senna is considered relatively safe when used only occasionally in amounts typically recommended.

Senna should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If senna causes cramping, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Rare in the United States

Senna is not a garden herb in the United States. It’s a small, woody shrub that reaches 3 feet and has branching stems, pointed leaves, and seeds encased in a leathery pod. The species generally used in herbal medicine is grown in the Tennevelly region of India, near the subcontinent’s southern tip. One species grows in the eastern United States, however.

Subtle Soother for Children

Family: Labiatae; (includes Mints)

Genus and Species: Satureja Hartensis (summer), S. Montana (winter)

Also known as: Bean Herb, White Thyme

Parts used: Leaves

With a spicy aroma and flavor reminiscent of thyme, savory is widely used in sausages, stuffings, soups, and bean dishes. Like other aromatic culinary herbs, savory has been used since ancient times as a cough remedy and stomach soother. But compared with its mint cousins, savory’s action is less powerful. Adults might prefer peppermint, but savory can be used safely and confidently for children’s coughs, colds, and tummy aches.

A Tale of Two Herbs

Summer savory is a low-growing annual. Winter savory is an equally diminutive perennial. Purists insist the summer herb has a sweeter, more delicate aroma; however, today most cooks and herbalists use them interchangeably. But this was not always the case-especially in the bedroom.

For reasons lost to history, the ancient Romans linked summer savory to the mythological satyrs-the lustful, halfman, half-goat creatures who threw debauched orgies in honor of Dionysus, god of wine. As a result, the Roman naturalist Pliny called summer savory an aphrodisiac and the winter herb a sex depressant. Not surprisingly, summer savory was more popular.

The Romans introduced summer savory throughout Europe, where it quickly became a popular spice Germanic tribes loved its flavor in beans and called it bean herb (fJolinendraut). To this day, Germans regard savory as an effective remedy for the downside of beans, flatulence. The Germanic Saxons who settled in Britain thought savory made every food taste, well, savory, which is how it got its English name.

Infant Colic and Childhood Ailments

By the 17th century, summer savory had shed its association .with lust. The summer and winter varieties began to be used interchangeably and called simply “savory.” Nicholas Culpeper wrote it “expels wind from the stomach and bowels and is good for asthma and other affections of the breast. Neither is there a better remedy for the colic and iliac passion [upset stomach I.” He also recommended savory as a stimulant to “quicken the dull spirits.” Externally, Culpeper touted savory poultices for sciatica and “palsied members” (paralyzed limbs).

Colonists introduced savory into North America, where it was widely used as a digestive aid and cough, cold, and diarrhea remedy, especially for children. The 19th-century Eclectics also distilled the herb’s oil and used it like clove oil to treat toothache.

Contemporary herbalists generally confine their recommendations to indigestion and diarrhea. But some still suggest summer savory as a sexual stimulant, especially for women, even though there has been no scientific research to back this up.

Savory contains an expectorant (cineole) and chemicals that soothe the digestive tract.

Digestive Aid - Although these chemicals make it appropriate as a digestive aid, scientists agree with traditional herbalists that savory is less powerful than most of the mints. Its gentler action confirms its traditional use for childhood ailments.

Rx for Savory

For an infusion to treat childhood cough, colds, and stomach upset, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Give up to 3 cups a day Savory tastes pleasant, like thyme, only more peppery. Adults may use 4 teaspoons of herb per cup.

In a tincture, use ½ teaspoon up to three times a day for children and 1 teaspoon for adults.

The medical literature contains no reports of harm from either summer or winter savory.

Savory is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, savory is safe in amounts typically recommended.

Savory should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Savor Your Savory

Annual summer savory reaches 18 inches. It has hairy, purplish stems, narrow, lance-shaped leaves, and small white or pink flowers, which bloom from midsummer through the first frost. Winter savory is a compact, woody, perennial bush that grows to 12 inches. Its leaves are similar to those of its summer cousin, only darker green, and its flowers, which bloom from mid to late summer, are white or lavender.

Both are easy to grow from seeds or cuttings, and both grow well in containers. Summer savory grows in most moist, well-drained soils. Sow seeds no-more than 1/8 inch deep under full sun and thin seedlings to 10-inch spacing. Water frequently.

Winter savory is slower to germinate. It prefers lighter, drier soil. Do not over-water. Although it is a perennial, it may not survive New England and midwest winters. Even in warm areas it is short-lived and must be replaced every few years.

Leaves of both species may be harvested when plants reach 6 inches. When they flower, cut them near the ground, dry them, then strip the leaves. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place.

A Sexy Reputation

Family: Liliaceae; (includes Lily)

Genus and Species: Smilax Officinalis, S. Febrifuga, and other Smilax species

Also known as: Mexican, Vera Cruz, Honduran, Jamaican, American, and Ecuadoran Sarsaparilla

Parts used: Rhizome and roots

You probably thought the cowboy asked the saloon keeper to “Give me a sarsaparilla” because he didn’t want whiskey. But cowboys who ordered sarsaparilla
usually had more than refreshment in mind. The herb was among the most widely used 19th-century treatments for syphilis, and cowboys often ordered it after visiting the local brothel.

Scientists now say sarsaparilla has no benefit against syphilis, and many dismiss the herb as medically useless. But studies suggest it may have some benefit as a diuretic.

Linked to Syphilis

The ancient Greeks and Romans considered European sarsaparilla an antidote to poisons. But the herb was not popular in herbal Healing until the 16th century, when Spanish explorers discovered the Caribbean species, a prickly (zana) vine (parra) that was small (il1a). That description became our word sarsaparilla. Caribbean and North American Indians used the herb to treat skin conditions, urinary complaints, and as a tonic to keep one young and vigorous, both physically and sexually.

In 1494 an epidemic of unusually virulent syphilis swept Europe, killing thousands, rather like the AIDS epidemic today. Europeans considered the disease an import from the New World, and they looked to herbs from across the Atlantic to treat it. They focused on sarsaparilla.

The conquistadors began shipping Mexican sarsaparilla back to Spain around 1530, and by 1600 it was widely used throughout Europe as a strengthening tonic and treatment for syphilis. Sarsaparilla and syphilis have been entwined ever since.

Sarsaparilla enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity.

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper called it the treatment of choice for “the French disease,” the English name for syphilis. Echoing the ancients, he wrote: “If the i uice of the berries be given to a new-born child, it shall never be hurt by poison.” Culpeper also recommended sarsaparilla for eye problems, head colds, gas pains, pimples, and “all manner of aches in the sinews or joints.”

By 1800, many physicians denounced sarsaparilla as completely ineffective against syphilis, but their words fell on deaf ears. Mid-19th-century trade records indicate Britain imported upward of 150,000 pounds a year, much of it for treatment of syphilis.

“Blood Purifier”

In 19th-century America, sexually transmitted diseases were never mentioned in polite conversation. Nonetheless, syphilis was quite prevalent, and physicians experimented with many herbs and patent medicines to treat it. These treatments were known euphemistically as “blood purifiers.” One of the most popular was Ayer’s sarsaparilla, marketed for “disorders of the liver, stomach, kidneys, as well as tuberculosis, tumors, rheumatism, female weakness, sterility, pimples, and syphilis”.

Sarsaparilla was listed in the US. Pharmacopoeia as a syphilis treatment from 1820 to 1882, but after the Civil War, the anti-sarsaparilla bandwagon gained momentum, and by the late 19th century, most physicians dismissed it as worthless.

Although there is no scientific research to back up these traditional uses, contemporary herbalists continue to recommend sarsaparilla for colds, coughs, fevers, and gout. Some say it contains the male sex hormone testosterone. None recommend it for syphilis.

For an herb once so popular, it’s amazing how little research has been done on sarsaparilla. Most studies date from the 1930s to early 1950s, and few have been replicated. Nonetheless, scientists have turned up some benefits. Sarsaparilla contains chemicals (saponins) with diuretic action, which possibly account for its long association with the genitals.

Syphilis - Western investigators insist sarsaparilla is useless against syphilis. But unconfirmed reports from China suggest it may help. Perhaps the Chinese-and 500 years of herbalism-are completely wrong. Or perhaps 19th-century physicians were right when they observed that sarsaparilla takes a long time to show benefit. The question deserves investigation because syphilis has been on the upswing in the United States in recent years.

High Blood Pressure - Physicians often prescribe diuretics for high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a serious condition requiring professional care. If you’d like to include sarsaparilla in your overall treatment plan, do so only with the approval and supervision of your physician.

Diuretics deplete the body of potassium, an essential nutrient. If you use sarsaparilla frequently, be sure to eat foods high in potassium, such as bananas and fresh vegetables.

Congestive Heart Failure - Physicians often prescribe diuretics to combat the fluid accumulation involved in this condition. Heart failure demands professional care. If you’d like to include sarsaparitla in your overall treatment plan, discuss it with your physician.

Women’s Health - Pregnant and nursing women should not use diuretics. But as a diuretic, sarsaparilla might provide some relief for women bothered by premenstrual bloating (fluid retention).

Intriguing Possibilities - Preliminary studies from around the world have reported sarsaparilla helps treat psoriasis and leprosy.

Myth - Saponins bear some chemical resemblance to the male sex hormones testosterone and anabolic steroids Some writers have claimed sarsaparilla contains testosterone. It does not.

Sarsaparilla has also enjoyed some popularity among body builders who believe it contains anabolic steroids, which they take against medical advice to increase their muscle mass. Sarsaparilla contains no anabolic steroids.

Rx for Sarsaparilla

For a diuretic decoction, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of powdered root per cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. Sarsaparilla tastes initially sweetish, then unpleasant.

In a tincture, take ¼ to ½ teaspoon up to three times a day.

Sarsaparilla should not be given to children under age 2.

For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary

Some diet programs tout diuretics to eliminate water weight. But weight-control authorities discourage diuretics. Weight lost using diuretics almost invariably.returns. The key to permanent weight control is a low-fat, high-fiber diet and regular aerobic exercise.

Large amounts of sarsaparilla saponins may cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat, as well as stomach and intestinal irritation.

Other Cautions

Sarsaparilla is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non nursing adults, sarsaparilla is considered relatively safe in amounts typically recommended.

Sarsaparilla should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor If sarsaparilla causes minor discomforts, such as burning in the mouth or stomach upset, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Caribbean Vine

Sarsaparilla is not a garden herb in the United States It’s a perennial, climbing, woody, prickly-stemmed vine with pointed, generally oval-shaped leaves. Its flowers are dioecious (male and female on different plants). small, and green, yellow, or bronze. The medicinal parts, the rhizome and long, slender roots, are underground.

Possible AIDS Treatment

Family: Hypericaceae; (includes Rose of Sharon)

Genus and Species: Hypericum Perforatum

Also known as: Hypericum

Parts used: Leaves and flowers

St. John’s Wort has been used in herbal Healing for more than 2,000 years, most notably for its ability to speed wound Healing. And only recently scientists have gathered some evidence on the herb’s possible effectiveness as an immune system stimulant.

But its most exciting potential medical use was discovered in 1988, when researchers at New York University and the Weizmann Institute found it has “dramatic” activity against a family of viruses that includes HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Since then, some AIDS patients have reported “positive results” with the herb.

Saint’s Beheading

The leaves and flowers of St. John’s-wort contain special glands that release a red oil when pinched. Early Christians named the plant in honor of John the Baptist, because they believed it released its blood-red oil on August 29, the anniversary of the saint’s beheading (Wort is Old English for plant.)

In the first century, the Roman naturalist Pliny prescribed St-Iohn’s-wort in wine as a cure for the bites of poisonous snakes. And the Greek physician Dioscorides recommended it externally for burns and internally as a diuretic, menstruation promoter, and treatment for sciatica and recurring fevers (malaria). The Greeks and Romans also believed the herb was a protector against witches’ spells.

Christians adopted the pagan belief that St.-John’s-wort repelled evil spirits and burned it in bonfires on St. John’s Eve to purify the air, drive away evil spirits, and ensure healthy crops. This poem from around 1400 summed up the popular view:

St. Johns-wort doth charm all witches away
If gathered at midnight on the saint’s holy day.
Any devils and witches have no power to harm
Those that gather the plant for a charm.
Rub the lintels with that red juicy flower;
No thunder nor tempest will then have the power
To hurt or hinder your house; and bind
Round your neck a charm of a similar kind.

“A Most Precious Remedy”

Under the Doctrine of Signatures-the medieval belief that herbs’ physical appearance revealed their Healing value-red plants were believed to be good for wounds, and “the juicy red flower” of St-Iohn’s-wort was no exception. In the 16th century john Gerard recommended it as a “most precious remedy for deepe wounds,” and wrote the herb “provoketh urine and is right good against stone in the bladder.”

The first London Pnarmacopoeia in 16 18 advised chopping St.lohn’s-wort flowers, immersing them in oil, and placing the mixture in the sun for three weeks. The resulting tincture was a standard treatment for wounds and bruises for several hundred years.

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper called St.-Iohn’s-wort “a singular wound herb; boiled in wine and drank, it healeth inward hurts or bruises; made into an ointment, it opens obstructions, dissolves swellings, and closes up the lips of wounds …. [It] helpeth all manner of vomiting and spitting blood [tubercuiosis].”

Treatment for Wounds

Early colonists introduced St-John’s-wort into North America but found the Indians using the native American herb in much the same way Europeans used the Old World plant-as a tonic and treatment for diarrhea, fever, snakebite, wounds, and skin problems.

Nineteenth-century botanical medicine authority Charles Millspaugh, M.D., touted St-Iohn’s-wort’s value as a wound treatment during the Civil War.

Throughout the 19th century, homeopathy was as popular as orthodox medicine, and homeopaths prescribed the herb for a variety of ailments: wounds, asthma, bites, sciatica, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and certain forms of paralysis. Contemporary homeopaths continue this tradition.

America’s 19th-century Eclectic physicians also considered St.-John’s-wort a useful wound treatment and tetanus preventive and advocated the whole herb as a treatment for “hysteria” (menstrual discomforts) because of its “undoubted power over the nervous system and spinal cord.”

A Question about Blisters

Contemporary herbalists are divided on St.-John’s-wort because in 1977 the Food and Drug Administration declared it unsafe. After eating large quantities, cattle often become overly sensitive to the sun (photosensitization) and develop severe sunburn with blistering. Several sources say the same is true for humans, especially those with fair skin.

One recent herbal says: “Internal use of St-Iohn’s-wort should be avoided.” Some herbals say those with fair skin should use St.-John’s-wort cautiously, but that other people don’t have to worry. Meanwhile, most herbals either ignore the issue or dismiss it, saying the plant has been used safely in herbal Healing for more than 2,000 years.

Herbalists unconcerned about the safety issue recommend St.John’s-wort externally for wound treatment and internally for sciatica, insomnia, menstrual cramps, headache, colds, chest congestion, and as a tranquilizer.

St John’s-wort has been intensively researched, mostly in Germany and the former Soviet Union. It contains high concentrations of some potential immune-modulating chemicals, known as flavonoids. St.John’s-wort also contains another substance, hypericin, that has antiviral and anti-depressive action. Other studies show antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects.

AIDS - One of St-John’s-wort’s most exciting effects is hypericin’s apparent activity against the AIDS virus.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows the herb has “dramatic activity and little toxicity” against viruses similar to HIV, the AIDS virus, in testtube and animal tests. Mice were infected with viruses that cause leukemia, then given a single injection of St.John’s wort extract. It “totally prevented disease.” The herb was equally effective when the mice received it orally. Preliminary laboratory tests indicated similar action against the HIV virus. The herb also crosses the blood/brain barrier, which is important in AIDS treatment because the virus often attacks the brain.

These findings caused some excitement among AIDS researchers, some of whom launched studies to test St.-John’swort in people with AIDS. As this book goes to press, those studies have not been completed. Since early 1989, however, the newsletter AIDS Treatment News has published case reports and surveys of AIDS sufferers, some of whom have experienced “significant improvement” using St.Johns-wort. including increased immune function, weight gain, improved appetite, and greater energy.

Such reports are heartening, but like all anecdotal information, they must be viewed cautiously. Until the scientific studies have been completed and replicated, St.John’s-wort cannot be considered an AIDS treatment. Nonetheless, preliminary results look promising.

AIDS patients enrolled in St.-John’s-wort studies do not use the bulk herb but rather a “standardized extract.” Standardization is crucial to the scientific acceptability of research results.

Wound Healing - Several studies have supported St.John’s-worts traditional use in wound Healing. The hypericin and other antibiotic chemicals in the herb’s red oil may help prevent wound infection. In addition, the plant’s potential immune-stimulating flavonoids help reduce wound inflammation. One German study showed that compared with conventional treatment, a St.John’s-wort ointment substantially cut the Healing time of burns and caused less scarring. (This product is not available in the United States.)

Anti-depressant - Hypericin appears to interfere with the activity of a chemical in the body known as monoamine oxidase (MAO), making it an MAO inhibitor. MAO inhibitors are an important class of antidepressant drugs. In a small German study, 15 women in treatment for depression obtained significant relief aftertaking St.-John’s-wort including increased appetite, greater interest in life, improved feelings of self-worth, and more normal sleep patterns. But St-John’swort is not an instant antidepressant. According to German medical herbalist Rudolph Fritz Weiss, M.D, the effect “does not develop quickly …. [It takes] two or three months.”

Rx for St.-John’s-Wort

For AIDS treatment, consult a physician for help in obtaining the standardized extracts or in getting enrolled in a clinical trial of the substance.

For wound treatment, apply crushed leaves and flowers to the affected area after you have cleaned it with soap and water.

For an infusion to help treat depression and possibly stimulate the immune system, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. St.-John’s-wort tastes initially sweet, then bitter and astringent.

In a tincture, use ¼ to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. St.-John’s-wort should not be given to children under age 2.

For older children and people over 65, start with lowstrength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

In combination with certain foods and drugs, MAO inhibitors may cause dangerously increased blood pressure (hypertensive crisis). Symptoms include headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, and clammy skin. In recommended amounts, St.John’s-wort is not as powerful as pharmaceutical MAO-inhibitors. Nonetheless, those using the herb should follow certain precautions. While using St.John’s-wort. do not take amphetamines, narcotics, the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine, diet pills, asthma inhalants, nasal decongestants, or cold or hay fever medications. In addition, don’t drink beer. wine, or coffee, or eat salami, yogurt, chocolate, fava beans, or smoked or pickled items.

Shun the Sun

In livestock fed St.John’s-wort. the hypericin concentrates near the skin and causes blistering sunburn.

Laboratory animals injected with large doses of hypericin have died after exposure to sunlight.

The scientific consensus is that in recommended doses, whole St-John’s-wort causes little if any photosensitization except in fair-skinned people, who are generally more sensitive to sunlight. Those taking St-John’s-wort (like those taking the antibiotic tetracycline, another photosensitizing drug) should make an effort to stay out of the sun.

AIDS patients report the herb is relatively nontoxic, but some have reported drowsiness, sun sensitivity, nausea, and diarrhea.

Other Cautions

The FDA can’t make up its mind about St.-John’s-wort. After declaring it unsafe in 1977, the agency partially reversed its ruling and now allows the herb in vermouths.

For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults who do not have hypertension and are not taking MAO inhibitors or any medications that interact adversely with them, St.Johns-wort is considered safe in amounts typically recommended. It should only be used, however, with the consent and supervision of a physician.

St.-John’s-wort should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If St.-John’s-wort causes headache, stiff neck, or nausea, use less or stop using it. If symptoms persist, consult your physician promptly.

Flowers That “Bleed”

St-John’s-wort is a woody, invasively spreading perennial that reaches 2 feet and has an aroma reminiscent of turpentine. Its leaves are dotted with glands that produce a red oil. Its striking star-shaped flowers bloom bright yellow in summer. They also contain the leaf oil, and when pinched, turn red. ‘

St.Johns-wort is best propagated from root divisions in spring or fall, It grows in almost any well-drained soil under full sun or partial shade. Contain the herb to control its spread. Although it is a perennial, St-John’s-wort is not particularly long lived. Replant it every few years.

Harvest the leaves and flower tops as the plants bloom.

Dry them and store in airtight containers.

Expensive, but Worth it

Family: Iridaceae; (includes Iris, Gladiolus, Crocus)

Genus and Species: Crocus Sativus

Also known as: Saffron Crocus or Spanish Saffron, but not American Saffron, which is Safflower

Parts used: Stigmas (part of the pistil)

Saffron is the yellow-gold spice that for centuries was literally worth its weight in gold. It still is, costing around $500 an ounce. Like the price of gold, saffron’s value in herbal Healing has fluctuated. But its value may be on the rise again because of its potential to help reduce some risk factors for heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death.

75,000 Flowers to the Pound

The Arabs introduced saffron into Spain around the 8th century, and that country has been a major exporter ever since. Saffron’s violet, lilylike flowers contain three yellow-orange stigmas, the part with economic value. Used as a dye, spice, medicine, and perfume, saffron stigmas have been in great demand since ancient times. It takes about 75,000 flowers to yield I pound of saffron. You don’t have to be an economist to understand why this herb has always been so expensive.

Because of its value, saffron has a long history of adulteration. The adulterant of choice has always been safflower, also a source of yellow-red dyes and variously known as fake saffron, dyer’s saffron, and bastard saffron.

Egyptian Aromatic

Saffron was a favorite of the ancient Egyptians The nobility wore robes dyed with saffron, anointed themselves with saffron perfumes, ate foods spiced with the herb, and used it like other aromatics to treat head, respiratory, and gastrointestinal complaints.

India’s traditional Ayurvedic physicians considered saffron a circulatory stimulant, kidney and liver remedy, cholera treatment, menstruation promoter and aphrodisiac. Chinese physicians prescribed it for depression, menstrual complaints, and complications of childbirth.

Despite its cultivation in Moorish Spain, saffron was rare in northern Europe until after the Crusades. But by the 14th century, it had become so popular as a dye, spice, perfume, and medicine that spice merchants throughout the continent were known as saffron grocers.

Under the Doctrine of Signatures-the medieval belief that plants’ physical appearances revealed their Healing value-anything yellow was linked to the liver’s yellow bile and considered good for that organ. Folk healers recommended saffron for jaundice. They also used it to treat insomnia and cancer.

Highly Regarded, Widely Touted

Herbalist John Gerard called saffron a lifesaver: “For those at deeth’s doure and almost past breathing, saffron bringeth breath again.”

Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper considered it “elegant … exhilerating … and useful. … It strengthens the heart exceedingly … [Saffron] is particularly serviceable in disorders of the breast … and hysteric [menstrual] depressions. It strengthens the stomach, helps digestion, cleanses the lungs, and is good in coughs.” But for all his praise, Culpeper also considered saffron potentially hazardous: “When the dose is too large, it produces a heaviness of the head and sleepiness. Some have fallen into convulsive laughter, which ended in death.”

In 1851, scientists isolated the herb’s most active constituent, crocetin, which America’s 19th-century Eclectics prescribed as a menstrual remedy, menstruation promoter, and treatment for childhood fevers. But America’s botanical physicians considered saffron “too costly” and noted the herb was so frequently adulterated, preparations called saffron could not be relied upon to contain the herb.

Contemporary herbalists recommend saffron as a sedative, expectorant, sexual stimulant, pain reliever, digestive aid, and menstruation promoter.

Culpeper may have been right when he said saffron “strengthens the heart exceedingly.” The herb is indeed expensive, but it costs a lot less than some clot-dissolving drugs injected directly into the heart to treat heart attack (up to $2,000 per dose) or bypass surgery (approxiMatély $25,000). People who use enough saffron might actually save money in the end, because it may help control some risk factors for heart disease.

Cholesterol - Several animal studies show injected crocetin produces significant cholesterol decreases. Of course, people who ingest whole saffron orally may not receive the same benefit as animals injected with the herb’s active constituent. Population studies, however, support the herb as a protector against human heart disease. Certain populations in Spain have little heart disease (or stroke) despite a relatively high-fat diet. Some experts credit the liberal use of olive oil in cooking. But an article in the British medical journal Lancet argued for saffron-also used liberally in Spanish cuisine-as the more important protective factor.

Artery-Clogging Deposits - Crocetin also increases the amount of oxygen in blood. Some researchers suggest this additional oxygen slows the growth of the artery-clogging plaque deposits involved in heart disease.

Blood Pressure - Animal research in China shows saffron reduces blood pressure, and in the United States, crocetin is used to treat high blood pressure in cats. These findings suggest it may help control another important risk factor in human heart disease.

Women’s Health - Saffron may stimulate the uterus, lending some credence to its traditional use in menstruation promotion. Pregnant women should not use medicinal amounts. Other women may try it to trigger their periods.

Rx for Saffron

For potential heart disease prevention or menstruation promotion, use 12 to 15 stigmas (threads) per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Take up to 1 cup a day. Saffron tastes pleasant and richly aromatic, but it becomes bitter in large amounts.

Medicinal doses of saffron should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.

Crocetin has been used to induce abortion. Unfortunately, it’s toxic in large amounts. Fatalities have been reported in women attempting to terminate pregnancy.

The medical literature contains no reports of harm from recommended amounts of this herb, however.

Saffron is included in the Food and Drug Administration’s list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, saffron is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.

Saffron should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor. If saffron causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.

Save the Stigmas

Saffron grows from a bulb called a corm. It’s a perennial, showy ornamental that rarely grows taller than 18 inches. Saffron has no true stem. What appears to be the stem is actually the tubular portion of the flower envelope (corolla), which is surrounded by leaves resembling blades of grass.

Plant corms in the fall or spring, 3 inches deep with the root side down in light, well-drained soil under full sun. Allow 6 inches between plants. The flowers bloom briefly in late summer or early tall. Carefully collect the three-pronged stigmas and allow them to dry. Store them in a sealed glass vial in a cool, dry place.

Herb for the Wise

Family: Labiatae; (includes Mints)

Genus and Species: Salvia Officinalis

Also known as: Garden, Meadow, Spanish, Greek, or Dalmatian Sage

Parts used: Leaves

Close your eyes and imagine Thanksgiving turkey stuffing. Chances are the warm, rich aroma comes from sage. Thousands of years before the Pilgrims stuffed the first Thanksgiving turkey, people all over the world were celebrating the Healing powers of this aromatic herb. The generic name for sage, Salvia, comes from the Latin word meaning “to heal.”

Sage was used to treat so many maladies, it gained a reputation as a panacea, prompting herb expert Varro Tyler, Ph.D., to write: “If one consults enough herbals … every sickness known to humanity will be listed as being cured by sage.” Sage is no cure-all, but research shows this herb has some value as an antiperspirant, preservative, wound treatment, and digestive aid.

The Immortality Herb

The ancient Greeks and Romans first used sage as a meat preservative. They also believed it could enhance memory, like another powerful preservative, rosemary. But sage gained a much broader medicinal reputation. The Roman naturalist Pliny prescribed it for snakebite, epilepsy, intestinal worms, chest ailments, and menstruation promotion. The Greek physician Dioscorides considered it a diuretic and menstruation promoter and recommended sage leaves as bandages for wounds.

Around the l Oth century, Arab physicians believed sage extended life to the point of immortality. After the Crusades, this belief showed up in Europe, where students at the medieval world’s most prestigious medical school in Salerno, Italy, recited: “Why should a man die who grows sage in his garden?” The same thought evolved into a medieval English proverb: “He that would live foraye [forever] - Must eat sage in May.”

The French called the herb toute bonne, “all’s well.” and had their own adage: “Sage helps the nerves, and by its powerful might/Palsy is cured and fever put to flight.” Charlemagne ordered sage grown in the medicinal herb gardens on his imperial farms.

Widely Prescribed

Around the year 1000, an Icelandic herbal recommended sage for bladder infections and kidney stones. German abbess/herbalist Hildegard of Bingen prescribed sage for headache and gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments from the common cold to tuberculosis.

During the 16th century, Dutch explorers introduced sage to the Chinese, who prized it so highly they gladly traded 3 pounds of their own tea for each pound of the new European healer. Chinese physicians used sage to treat insomnia, depression, gastrointestinal distress, mental illness, menstrual complaints, and nipple inflammation (mastitis) in nursing mothers.

India’s traditional Ayurvedic physicians used Indian sage similarly. They also prescribed it for hemorrhoids, gonorrhea, vaginitis, and eye disorders.

Herbalist John Gerard called sage “singularly good forthe head and brain. It quickeneth the senses and memory, strengtheneth the sinews, restoreth health to those that have palsy, and taketh away shaky trembling of the members.” Seventeenth-century English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper seconded Gerard, and recommended sage “boiled in water or wine to wash sore mouths and throats, cankers, or the secret parts [genttals] of man or woman.”

America Embraces the Herb

Colonists introduced sage into North America, where it was widely used by folk healers to treat insomnia, epilepsy, measles, seasickness, and intestinal worms.

America’s 19th-century Eclectics used sage primarily to treat fever. They also prescribed sage poultices for arthritis and the tea as “a valuable anaphrodisiac I sexual depressant I to check excessive venereal desires … used in connection with moral … and other aids, if necessary.”

As late as the 1920s, U.s. medical texts recommended sage tea as a gargle for sore throat and sage leaf poultices for sprains and swellings.

Modern herbalists recommend sage externally for wounds and insect bites, as a gargle for bleeding gums, sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, and in an infusion to reduce perspiration, terminate milk production, and treat dizziness, depression, menstrual irregularity, and intestinal upsets.

Toute bonne overstates things a bit, but sage contains an aromatic oil with some value in herbal Healing. The oil has one unique property that sets sage apart from all other Healing herbs-it reduces perspiration.

Antiperspirant - Several studies show sage cuts perspiration by as much as 50 percent, with the maximum effect occurring 2 hours after ingestion. This effect helps explain how sage developed a reputation for treating fever, which causes profuse sweating, and for drying up mothers’ milk. Today a sage-based antiperspirant (Salysat) is marketed in Germany.

Wound Treatment - Sage is active against several infection-causing bacteria in the test tube, lending some credence to its age-old use in treating wounds. Modern physicians would not recommend bandaging wounds with sage leaves as did Dioscorides, but for cuts and scrapes in the garden, you may want to crush some sage leaves into the wound on the way to washing and bandaging it.

Preservative - Meats spoil in part because their fats turn rancid (oxidize). Like rosemary, sage contains powerful antioxidants, which slow spoilage. The antioxidants in sage, comparable to the commercial preservatives BHA and BHT, support its traditional use as a preservative.

Sage’s preservative action may help prevent food poisoning on your next picnic. Mix it generously into hamburger meat and tuna, pasta, and potato salads.

Digestive Aid - Like most culinary spices, sage may help relax the smooth muscle lining of the digestive tract (making it an antispasmodic). This property lends support to the herb’s traditional use in gastrointestinal complaints.

Diabetes - One German study shows sage reduces blood sugar (glucose) levels in diabetics who drink the infusion on an empty stomach. Diabetes is a serious condition requiring professional care. If you’d like to include sage in your overall management plan, discuss the herb with your physician.

Sore Throat - Sage contains astringent tannins, which account for its traditional use in treating canker sores, bleeding gums, and sore throat. In Germany, where herbal Healing is more mainstream than it is in the United States, physicians recommend a hot sage gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis.

Women’s Health - Some studies suggest sage oil may stimulate the uterus, possibly explaining its traditional use in menstruation promotion. Pregnant women should not take medicinal doses. Other women might try it to bring on their periods.

Rx for Sage

For garden first aid, crush some fresh leaves into cuts and scrapes on the way to thoroughly washing and bandaging them.

For an infusion to settle the stomach, or possibly help manage diabetes, use 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves per cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 cups a day. This may also be used as a gargle. Sage tastes warm, pleasantly aromatic, and somewhat pungent.

In a tincture, take ½ to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day.

It might also help reduce wetness if you perspire a lot.

Medicinal doses of sage should not be given to children under age 2. For older children and people over 65, start with low-strength preparations and increase strength if necessary.