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 (49 page)

Evening Primrose is an anti-inflammatory that has been used topically to soothe skin eruptions and is an astringent for healing wounds. In 1982, the British medical journal,
Lancet,
noted that Evening Primrose might be of help to people who suffer from rosacea, atopic eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes

or eczema due to allergy.

Dosages:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, three (3) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:

Pregnant women should not use Evening Primrose, and excessive use may result in oily skin, an indication to decrease dosage.  Because of its blood-thinning properties, Evening Primrose should be avoided by those who are taking prescription blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin(R), enoxaparin (Lovenox).  Evening Primrose may exacerbate symptoms of temporal lobe epilepsy and should be avoided by those are treated for seizure disorders: phenytoin (Dilantin), valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene), carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal).  Do not take Evening Primrose if you are taking medication for mental conditions (examples: chlorpromazine (Thorazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), perphenazine (Trilafon).  Some experts suggest that magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, niacin and vitamin B-6 should be taken along with this herb.

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Flaxseed
provides all eight essential amino acids
and a
wealth of nutrients
, including Omega-3
and
Omega-6 essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes, protein, vitamins and minerals.  Flaxseed is said to help
lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, improve circulation and immune function
and also treat inflammatory disorders.

Plant Description:

As the source of linen fiber, Flax has been cultivated since at least 5000 B.C., and its importance continues today for its fiber and as a source of oil. Flax is a hardy annual that grows from one to four feet with narrow, hairy leaves and red, white, or blue flowers that are followed by spherical capsules (bols), which contain seeds that are high in oils with linoleic acid.

History:

Its history reaches back to the earliest times as a food (the seeds when roasted) and in the making of fine linen cloth. The Flax plant was grown in Palestine before the arrival of the Israelites.

The Bible
tells us that Rahab in Jericho hid two spies under stems of Flax she had been drying, and Solomon, praised his wife who separated the fibers of the Flax for fine linen.

The Egyptians made fine linen clothing and used it for wrapping mummies in the embalming process. The medicinal properties of Flaxseeds were known to the Greeks, as Hippocrates recommended them for inflammations of the mucous membranes and digestive disorders, and in eighth-century France, Charlemagne passed laws requiring the seeds to be consumed to keep his subjects healthy. In North America, the use of Flax dates back to 1617, when L. Hebert, the first farmer in Canada, brought it to New France, and today, the crop grows widely on the prairies of Canada for its oil-rich seeds.

The seed oil (linseed) is not only an important commercial ingredient in the manufacture of paint and varnish, but Flaxseed contains a wealth of nutritional benefits. The stems are used to make a high quality paper and linen cloth. The majority of fat in Flaxseed (more than 70 percent) includes polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely alpha-linoleic acid (parent of Omega-3), and linoleic acid (parent of Omega-6), the "good fats." They are essential in the human diet, required for proper infant growth and development and for maintaining the structure of cell membranes and permeability of the skin.

The body cannot manufacture them; their presence depends totally on dietary consumption. Flaxseed contains the linoleic and linolenic acids needed for production of hormone-like prostaglandins, which are vital for many bodily functions. Flaxseeds are not only
rich
in Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, but they are also a wealth of nutrients, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, vanadium, zinc, protein, mucilage, digestive enzymes, saponin, beta carotene, B-vitamins and vitamin E.

Medical Uses:

In reducing the risk factors of coronary heart disease, recent research has shown that Flaxseed's high Omega-3 fatty acid and its soluble fiber content have helped to reduce serum triglycerides and blood pressure. It also helps to reduce the hardening effects of cholesterol on cell membranes. Most of the soluble fiber in Flax is mucilage gum, which is a thick, sticky substance that blocks cholesterol absorption and also helps balance blood-glucose levels, thereby making it useful for reducing high blood sugar.

With regard to strokes and arteriosclerosis, the Omega-3 fatty acids in Flaxseed also appear to protect against stroke by regulating blood clotting and platelet aggregation.

Flaxseed is high in fiber. As an important source of both soluble and insoluble fiber, it has been long used to treat constipation and promote regularity. The insoluble fiber swells in the bowel to produce a gentle, bulking laxative, and the high oil content lubricates the intestines. A high-fiber diet including Flaxseed has been linked to a reduced risk of many chronic diseases, including diverticulosis, certain malignant diseases, i.e., colon (the quicker waste is eliminated, the less time the colon is exposed to toxins and bacteria).

For improved immune function, Flaxseed's alpha-linoleic acid and lignins have demonstrated a beneficial impact by affecting immune cells and immune-response mediators, such as eicosanoids and cytokines. Through these mechanisms, Flaxseed may play an important role in the clinical management of autoimmune diseases and certain hormone-dependent malignancies (breast, endometrial and prostate).

Flaxseeds have been used as a relaxing expectorant, easing sore throats and hacking coughs. Folk healers have long used the seeds to soothe any kind of lung or throat disturbance. The mucilage in Flaxseed has been effective for inflammations of the mucous membranes, which is soothing for many conditions including pharyngitis and gastritis.

Several studies have shown that Flaxseed's anti-inflammatory and soothing properties may reduce the pain, inflammation and swelling of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Flaxseed is an old remedy when used topically as a poultice for inflammations and ulcers and as a drawing poultice for boils and abscesses.

Dosages:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
None

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Ginkgo Biloba
is the world's most used treatment for
memory loss and degenerative diseases of the
brain and central nervous system
.  Because Ginkgo
increases the circulation of blood and oxygen
 to all parts of the body, the herb is an effective overall tonic that aids in the treatment of a variety of conditions, ranging from impotence to ringing in the ears.

Plant Description:

Ginkgo Biloba is sometimes called a living fossil and the only surviving member of the Ginkgo family.  It is one of the oldest living tree species, a deciduous conifer, dating back over three-hundred million years.
  Individual trees may live for one thousand years, as they are resistant to viruses, fungi, insects, pollution and even radiation, and they may reach 122 feet in height.

History:

Native to China, it has been included in Chinese herbal medicine's repertoire for almost five thousand years, where it was used for respiratory tract ailments and for memory loss in older adults.
  The trees were introduced to Europe in 1730 and the United States in 1784 as ornamentals, but since the 1980s, Western medical interest in the plant has grown dramatically since its potent actions on the cardiovascular system were identified.  Different parts of the plant have different properties with different medical applications.

Most commercial growth of Ginkgo is centered in plantations in South Carolina, France and China. Some of Ginkgo's constituents include amino acids, tannins, quercetin, beta-carotene, flavone glycosides, bioflavones, sitosterol, lactones, anthocyanin, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, B-vitamins and vitamins A and C.
  Ginkgo is now among the leading prescription medicines in both Germany and France.

Medical Uses:

Ginkgo Biloba improves blood and oxygen flow to the brain and has been most effective in treating senility, dementia, depression, anxiety, forgetfulness and inability to concentrate and ADD (attention deficit disorder) in adults. Ginkgo's most exciting application may be in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by helping to speed the blood flow to the brain and aiding the brain to utilize glucose efficiently.
  Improved blood flow to the brain also helps to prevent strokes, cerebral arteriosclerosis and other diseases of peripheral circulation.  Available evidence demonstrates Ginkgo's efficacy in the management of "cerebral insufficiency" caused by impaired blood flow to the brain, which is thought to be secondary to arteriosclerotic disease, and characterized by impaired concentration, confusion, depression, fatigue, headache and dizziness.

Ginkgo may reduce the risk of heart attack.
  In the same way improved blood flow helps other vital areas of the body, Ginkgo may prevent the blood clots that cause them. The herb blocks the platelet activation factor (PAF) that triggers the internal blood clots, which lead to heart attacks.  In addition, one of Ginkgo's flavone glycosides (ginkgolide) has been used to treat severely irregular heartbeat.

Problems associated with poor circulation, such as varicose veins, Raynaud's disease and macular degeneration have been alleviated with the use of Ginkgo Biloba.
  It is a circulatory stimulant that relaxes blood vessels. By increasing peripheral vascular circulation, the pain and cramping associated with obstruction and narrowing in the arteries (reducing blood flow) is relieved.  Improved blood circulation may also help inner ear dysfunction, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Ginkgo helps promote good sexual health.
  Male impotence (erectile dysfunction) has been helped by the use of Ginkgo Biloba.  Studies showed Ginkgo improved blood flow to the penis in men who had narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to that area and were unable to achieve erections. Additionally, women who suffered sexual difficulties when taking antidepressants have benefited from the use of Ginkgo, claiming that it enhanced orgasm and excitement.

Ginkgo is said to fight melanoma by improving the delivery of oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Oxygenated blood creates a hostile environment for hormone-related malignancy, including bladder, breast, ovarian, etc.

As an astringent, antifungal and antibacterial, Ginkgo helps to ward off kidney infections, diphtheria, dysentery, hemorrhoids and toxic shock, and has a beneficial effect on the urinary system, treating incontinence and excessive urination.  It is also useful in treating vaginal infection.

Ginkgo Biloba is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the brain from neurotoxicity. It is said to prevent free-radical damage and age-related declines in brain function. It may also prevent free radical damage in the kidneys and liver.

Problems with the respiratory tract are thought to be improved with Ginkgo Biloba. This herb treats bronchial constriction, asthma, chesty coughs (with thick phlegm) and tuberculosis.

Ginkgo has been known to provide relief for the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, including fluid retention and breast tenderness.

Precautions:

Speak with your doctor before taking Ginkgo Biloba if you are taking prescription MAO inhibitors (antidepressants) or blood thinners.
  Discuss its use before having surgery, if you are pregnant or if you take painkillers on a regular basis.  It is not recommended for epileptics. Topical or internal use may cause skin irritations, mild headaches or mild upset stomach.

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Goldenrod
is used to
flush impurities
from the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract, helping to treat urinary inflammation and infection (cystitis, urethritis, and vaginitis) and clearing kidney stones and gravel. It also helps to thin and
expel mucus and congestion
from the upper respiratory tract and help coughs of colds and flu.

Plant Description:

Goldenrod is a perennial that encompasses a multitude of species (there are over 130 varieties in North America alone!), with some that are native to Europe (
S
.
vigaurea,
et al) and others that are indigenous to North America, (
S
.
Canadensis
, et al), and many are distributed throughout Europe, the Americas, northwest and central Asia and North Africa. The attractive plant generally bears narrow, deep green leaves that smell like anise when crushed, with tiny yellow flower heads that grow in clusters on the upper ends of outstretched branches, blooming from June to September.