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 (75 page)

Medical
Uses:

Quassia is a powerful, simple bitter and stomachic that is widely used to support a healthy digestive system. It has been used as an effective tonic that soothes gastric upsets, indigestion, and acute dyspepsia and is believed to lessen putrefaction in the stomach and prevent the formation of acid substances during the digestive process.

Treatment:

It contains extremely bitter chemical substances known as quassinoids, the major one being quassin, which settles nausea. Quassia is also said to stimulate the production of stomach secretions (as well as those of the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, and intestines), which also help to improve digestion. It has long been used as a reliable way to stimulate a flagging appetite and may be helpful in treating anorexia. It is particularly valuable in cases of convalescence and general debility after acute disease, as well as act as a tonic to tone up a rundown system. As a Febrifuge, Quassia is said to effectively lower fevers.

Quassia has been used for centuries as an effective vermifuge, an agent that kills and expels worms in the intestines (especially roundworms) and nematodes. Used externally as a lotion, it kills parasites, such as lice and as a hair rinse for dandruff.

Many people claimed that Quassia was a cure for drunkenness because it destroyed one's appetite for alcohol.

In some studies, another extract of the resin, quassimarin, has been reported by researchers to be of possible value in the fight against leukemia.

Precautions:

Quassia should not be taken in large amounts (many times the recommended dosage), as it may act as an irritant and produce vomiting.

Dosages:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

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QUEEN OF THE MEADOW
is the natural version of aspirin without the digestive upsets and bleeding that may accompany the synthetic product. It is even said to soothe digestive upsets, as well as the pains and aches of inflammatory ailments.

Plant Description:

Queen of the meadow is home-grown to central and E Asia, where most of the popular ornamental species come from such as the bridal wreath (
S. x prunifolia), native to Japan, and its similar hybrid S. vanhouttei. In these species the fragrant, spire like flower clusters typical of the genus are borne on long, arching branches.

Queen of the Meadow native to North America include the hardhack, or steeplebush (S. tomentosa), a local source of astringent and tonic, and the meadowsweets (several species). The name meadowsweet is also applied to the related genus Filipendula, tall, hardy perennials (also often cultivated) formerly classified as Spiraea because of the similar showy blossoms. Filipendula includes the Eurasian dropwort (F. hexapetala), the queen of the meadow (F. ulmaria), now naturalized in the United States, and the North American queen of the prairie (F. rubra). Spiraeas are classified in the division
Magnoliophyta
, class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, family Rosaceae.

History:
Queen of the Meadow (not to be confused with Boneset/
Eupatorium purfoliatum
or Gravel Root/
Eupatorium purpureum
, two entirely different herbs that are frequently also called Queen of the Meadow and have different properties and applications) is a stout perennial wildflower that thrives in the rich, wet soils of marshes, bogs, ditches, damp meadows, and moist woods in sun or partial shade. The plant, with its fernlike foliage, pinnate leaves and fragrant, cream-white flower clusters, dislikes acid soil and grows up to six feet tall with a creeping, underground root. Queen of the Meadow was introduced to North America from Europe and now grows wild throughout eastern Canada and the United States. One of Queen of the Meadow's common names, Meadowsweet, is derived from its older name, meadsweet, which, like meadwort (its oldest English name from Anglo-Saxon times), refers to the plant's use as a flavoring for mead, a honeyed liquor. Its botanical specific,
ulmaria
, is derived from the Latin,
ulmus
, meaning "elm," referring to the resemblance of Queen of the Meadow's leaves to those of the elm tree. Queen of the Meadow was one of the three most sacred herbs of the Druids, the others being water mint and vervain, and in medieval Europe, the fragrant plant was considered an important strewing herb. The sweet fragrance of the plant made it a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, who favored the herb above all others as the strewing herb on the floors of her chambers. Queen of the Meadow is an astringent, aromatic herb, and the entire plant and flowers are used in herbal medicine. In 1653, the pharmacist, Nicholas Culpepper, noted the use of the herb as a remedy for fevers, colds, and flu. Queen of the Meadow (like Willow Bark) is the mother of aspirin. From these herbs, salicylic acid was first isolated in 1838, and the salicylates are the basis of the herbs' reputation as a reliable remedy. Some sixty years thereafter, the pharmaceutical company
Bayer
produced acetylsalicylate, a synthetic substance with the same properties as its natural forerunners. They called it
aspirin
, referring to Queen of the Meadow's oldest botanical name,
Spiraea ulmaria
.

Medical Uses:

Herbalists consider the plant to be one of the best remedies for digestive upsets, and the salicylic acid content is a longtime favorite for the symptoms of cold, flu, headaches, and rheumatic pains and aches. The leaves and flowers have a wonderful fragrance (and pleasant taste, too), and they are often included in potpourris. The whole plant yields a greenish-yellow dye, and the roots produce a black dye. Some of the constituents in Queen of the Meadow include salicylic acid, flavonoids (quercetin, rutin), tannins, mucilage, anthocyanidin, avicularin, coumarin, essential oil (methyl-salicylate, hyperoside), salicin, vanillin, glycoside and citric

Acid (vitamin C).

Treatments:

Probably the most famous use of Queen of the Meadow is for its aspirin-like qualities. The salicylic acid content provides natural relief for colds, flu, fevers and headaches. It is a great overall pain reliever.

Queen of the Meadow's anti-inflammatory qualities help to soothe and reduce inflammation and are beneficial for the relief of rheumatic pains and the pain of arthritis, aching joints and muscle cramps.

Some herbalists regard Queen of the Meadow as the best plant remedy for hyperacidity and heartburn. It is an antacid herb that heals and soothes the digestive tract and strengthens and tones the system. It also helps to control peptic ulcers and gastritis. Unlike synthetic aspirin, Queen of the Meadow offsets the acidic effects of salicylic acid. Long use of aspirin can lead to gastric ulceration and bleeding, but Queen of the Meadow does not produce these side effects and is actually a gentle digestive remedy for acidity.

Queen of the Meadow promotes sweating, and as such, helps to reduce fevers and clear the body of toxins through the skin.

As an antiseptic, Queen of the Meadow is said to be effective against organisms that cause diphtheria, dysentery and pneumonia.

Queen of the Meadow is an astringent that tightens and tones tissues. The tannins in the herb help to treat diarrhea.

As a mild diuretic, Queen of the Meadow promotes the flow of urine and is beneficial for the elimination of excess fluid in the system. It is said to be helpful in cases of certain urinary infections and cystitis.

Used externally, Queen of the Meadow has been used as a compress for rheumatic pains, neuralgia and sore, aching joints and muscles. It has also been used as cooling eyewash that relieves conjunctivitis and other eye complaints.

Precautions:

Those who are allergic to aspirin should not use Queen of the Meadow. It is not recommended for pregnant or nursing women without first consulting a physician and children under the age of sixteen years of age with symptoms of flu, chicken pox or other types of viral infection should not use Queen of the Meadow, because, like aspirin, there may be a risk of developing Reye's syndrome.

Dosages:
For Botanical Powder:
Take two (2) to three (3) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.
For Botanical Extract:
Take one (1) to two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

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Quercetin
is a bioflavonoid (sometimes called vitamin P) that is packed with natural antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic qualities.  Normally found in highly nutritious foods and plants, such as citrus, red apples, teas, broccoli and onions, etc., you can easily take it in a supplement form; and because the human body cannot produce bioflavonoids, they must be supplied in the diet -
and you should supply them to maximize sound health!
 

Plant Description:

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid, an important member of a large group of compounds that are found in many herbs and plants, including Onions (thought to have the largest amount), Broccoli, Citrus fruits (especially the white material just beneath the peel of citrus fruits), Grapes, teas (especially Green Tea), Blue-green Algae, Red Apples, Red Wine and many others. 

Medical Use:

Although not a real vitamin in the true sense, it is sometimes referred to as vitamin P, a so-called vitamin that maintains the resistance of cell and capillary walls to permeation.
  Bioflavonoids cannot be manufactured in the body and are necessary for good health and essential for the absorption of vitamin C.  It is recommended that Quercetin and vitamin C be taken simultaneously for optimum efficacy.  Bromelein, too, is said to help absorption of Quercetin; they're synergistic, and taking them at the same time will enhance the efficacy of Quercetin.

There are many different bioflavonoids, including Quercetin, Rutin, Hesperidin, flavones, citrin, etc., and some of the herbs that contain this essential nutrient include Chervil, Elderberry, Hawthorne, Horsetail, Rose Hips and Shepherd's Purse, to name a few.  Recent studies show that bioflavonoids may be a big factor in preventing invasive infection and serious malignant diseases.

Treatment:

Quercetin is said to be more potent than vitamin E as an antioxidant and has been found to block destructive structural changes in cells, helping to prevent abnormal cell growth.With regard to fighting cancer, Quercetin is thought to be one of the most useful herbal supplements that are thought to help combat invasive infection.It is said to block the transport of fatty, arachidonic acid into the unhealthy cells, which, in turn, inhibits the release of inflammatory chemicals that promote the growth of blood vessels supplying nutrients and oxygen to the unhealthy cells.
  It is also said to deactivate enzymes that can trigger the multiplication of malignant bladder, breast, ovarian and colorectal cells.Recent studies completed at Johns Hopkins have indicated that Quercetin may, in fact, help prevent colon cancer, and we have provided the direct link to bring you up to date on this recent science. 
(Click here to read the entire article)

Pursuant to fighting malignancy, Quercetin is said to stop the chemical signals that give ovarian cancer cells a growth advantage over healthy cells.
  Furthermore, studies at the Indiana University School of Medicine have found that Quercetin and genistein (a key isoflavone in SOY) will enhance each other's effects when combating ovarian and other malignant cells and may thus be more effective when used together.

Quercetin is considered an anti-allergenic and is said to inhibit allergic reactions by preventing multiplication of cells that secrete histamine, the chemical that causes inflammation and swelling; and it does not induce drowsiness often accompanying the use of antihistamines because its action does not act upon the nerves that stimulate the cells. Quercetin is said to help the lungs deal with dust and particle pollution and can benefit the discomforts of emphysema, asthma, bronchial problems, hives and other allergies.

With regard to cataracts, diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, although Quercetin does not correct the blood-vessel defects that cause these disorders; it does protect the cells of the retina and the eye's lens from the effects of low oxygen levels and neurological toxins.

Quercetin is thought to help blood vessels injured by debility or high blood pressure by inhibiting the growth of cholesterol that forms into plaque in the blood vessels. It is said to slow the chemical reactions that cause large numbers of macrophages to cluster on the artery walls, reducing plaque formation (clotting), which can be beneficial for promoting improved blood circulation and reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis.

Chemically similar to sodium cromoglycate, a drug that is used to protect against migraines provoked by foods known to cause a migraine attack, Quercetin inhibits many of the pathways of inflammation associated with migraine and is said to prevent headaches associated with allergies.