Herbal Colon Cleansing

The colon is an organ that is situated in the abdomen. This organ is vitally essential for its function of completing the digestive process in the body and that by means of stimulating water-soluble nutrients and carrying out the fusion of particular vitamins.

The health of the digestive system has definitely a superb impact on the entire body. So keeping the colon clean is important for several various health issues. Aside from that, keeping the colon clean is also necessary for weight related issues like food cravings and bloating. It is generally given that problems like constipation, abdominal gas, depression, diarrhea, irritability, allergies, mood swings, asthma, skin problems, bad breath, foul body odor, tiredness, insomnia, and many other health disorders can greatly benefit from having a colon clean.

For that matter, herbal colon cleansing programs and supplements are greatly designed by many herbal colon cleansing experts. In fact, there are so many herbal colon cleaning programs and supplements that are out in the market today which can greatly help us to keep our weight and energy levels just where we want them. But what really is herbal colon cleansing?

The concept for herbal colon cleansing basically involves the natural detoxification of the colon. Many experts have noted that toxicity emerges when we take in more than we can employ and do not eradicate the excess. Of course, this can include emotions, food, and even mental stress.

Herbal colon cleansing is then the process of aiding the colon’s natural function of sweeping stored toxins. As such, herbal colon cleansing can greatly assist emotions and stress to be naturally released from the tissues of the body. So when we engage in the process of eradicating our toxic loads through the method of herbal colon cleansing, we will feel lighter in every sense. And aside from that, with herbal colon cleansing, we can stay receptive to our body’s wants and we can be open to some adjustments.

Herbal colon cleansing also aids in the revitalization of our natural functions. In addition, it can empower our new lifestyle preferences, and most of all, herbal colon cleansing can assist true healing. So for such functions and benefits brought by herbal colon cleansing, many experts have stated that to achieve good health, one should first cleanse the colon. It is for the fact, that many experts are certain that a healthy colon was the important keystone for good health. And from that view, many experts taught and heed the standard of herbal colon cleansing, year after year, so their students and patients greatly benefited from it.

Shark Liver Oil

Shark liver oil is as its name implicates derived from the livers of deep-water sharks. Shark liver oil is used to fight cancer and boosts the immune system. The shark liver oil is a by-product of the fishing industry. Sharks are not hunted for their oil alone. The practice of using shark liver oil as a medicine for wounds and to fight flu spans for centuries already. Japanese seamen called shark liver oil as samedawa or ‘cure all’. In the 1950s, it was discovered that a natural immune-boosting compound called alkylglycerols are found in high concentration in the shark liver oil.

Other less concentrated sources of alkylglycerols are found in the bone marrow, liver, spleen and breast milk of both mature cows and humans. This compound is the focus on medical interest on shark liver oil as a possible accompaniment to cancer treatment and an immune booster. It also contains squalamine which is a substance that fight breast, lung, brain and skin cancer by choking off the tumor’s blood supply. Shark live oil also contains squalene in large amounts which is an anti-oxidant and bacteria-fighter. It also has omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A.

There are several health benefits one can derive from using shark liver oil. These benefits include:

* It adds to the conventional cancer treatment. In Europe, this is widely practiced. Research shows that alkylglyerols in shark liver oil may boost the immune system and prevent the spread of disease. The shark liver oil also strengthens healthy cells to ease the side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

* It fights infections, inflammations and heal wounds. Its immune boosting properties help speed up the healing of colds, flu and various skin infections.

* It is also believe to be a remedy for asthma, arthritis, skin inflammations of psoriasis. But these claims remain to be proven.

In order to get the most out of shark liver oil, you should purchase shark liver oil products that contain ‘alkylglycerols’ which is a disease-fighting ingredient. 1000 mg capsule could provide at least 200 mg of alkylglycerols. Other healing compounds found in shark liver oil are squalamine and squalene. Do not take more than the recommended dietary allowance or dosages of shark liver oil. More does not necessarily mean better. See your doctor if you take the product more than 30 days. You may require a blood test and a dosage change because long-term use might alter blood consistency.

To accompany cancer treatments, take 1 to 2 capsules, three times a day with meals.
To fight infections, take 1 to 2 capsules a day for 7 days with meals. Food will increase the absorption of the product’s active ingredients. Pregnant women are cautioned not to use this supplement. Consult a doctor first. There are no known drugs or nutrients interaction linked with shark liver oil. Possible side effects when taking shark liver oil include: mild stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion. These rarely occur however if oil is taken at recommended doses.

Folic Acid / Vitamin B12

Folic Acid/Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is an important vitamin that is soluble in water. Unlike any other water-soluble vitamins, folic acid/vitamin B12 is not excreted quickly in the urine. Rather, it accumulates and is stored in the body, specifically the liver and the kidney. Perhaps as a result of this, deficiency in folic acid/vitamin B12 is not apparent until after 5 or 6 years of consuming a diet that supplies an inadequate amount of this vitamin group.

Folic acid/vitamin B12 acts like a methyl donor and plays an important role in the synthesis of DNA and red blood cells. It has a vital importance in maintaining the health of the myelin, the insulation sheath that surrounds nerve cells. One of the consequences of folic acid/vitamin B12 deficiency is anaemia but it is now clear that it is not the most serious of consequences. The normal blood level of folic acid/vitamin B12 ranges between 200 and 600 picogram/milliliter (148-443 picomol/liter).

Before anaemia is evident, a deficiency in folic acid/vitamin B12 often manifests itself in the development of a neurological dysfunction that is not unlike senile dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Many patients who are exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer’s actually suffer from a folic acid/vitamin B12 deficiency. In addition, low levels of this vitamin are linked with asthma, depression, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, diabetic neuropathy, and low sperm counts. Based on this, it is clearly evident that maintaining an adequate amount in the body is crucial.

How much does the body need?

The amount of folic acid/vitamin B12 that our body needs is actually very small. The body needs about 2 micrograms or 2 millionth of a gram each day. However, because folic acid/vitamin B12 is not absorbed very well, we need larger amounts than that. We can do this through increasing folate in your diet or through supplementation. The richest dietary sources of folic acid/vitamin B12 are liver (especially lamb’s liver) and kidneys. You can also get an adequate supply of this vitamin from eggs, cheese, and some species of fish. Contrary to popular belief, vegetables and fruits are actually poor sources.

Supplementation

One of the best ways to maintain adequate levels of folic acid/vitamin B12 in the body is through supplementation. Oral supplementation with this vitamin is safe, efficient, and inexpensive. You can find several drugstores that sell multi-vitamins. Each multi-vitamin pill contains about 100-200 microgram of folic acid/vitamin B12 in cyanocobalamin form. The body will convert this into methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin so it can start using it.

How to take it

One of the problems with folic acid/vitamin B12 is its absorption. As stated before, absorption is slow. So even if you take in about 500 micrograms of cyanocobalamin, your body actually only absorbs as little as 1.8 micrograms. This shows that multivitamins do not necessarily provide adequate daily intake.

The best approach in taking folic acid/vitamin B12 is to place a sublingual tablet of methylcobalamin (1000 micrograms) under your tongue and allow it to dissolve. This will actually increase the absorption rate, thereby allowing the body to maintain adequate amounts.

Recommended Dosage for Folic Acid/Vitamin B12 Deficiency

In cases of deficiency, 1000 micrograms per day might not be enough. The recommended dosage is 2000 micrograms per day for one month. After the first month, the 1000 microgram/day may be followed.

Horehound

Horehound, or sometimes Black Horehound, emits a disagreeable odor that certainly makes it distinguishable from all other plants. The horehound bears the scientific name of Marrabium vulgare (sometimes Ballota nigra) and belongs to the Labiatae order. The horehound is indigenous to the temperate regions of the Eastern Hemisphere.

A perennial, the plant is common in the wayside with stout branches, brown stems, and wrinkled leaves that resemble an egg in their shapes. Horehound is not an attractive plant, neither is its odor particularly pleasing. In fact, the smell of the whole plant borders on the offensive so that it is for the most part rejected by cattle. This is probably the basis of its name Ballota which is derived from the Greek word “ballo”, meaning “to reject.” Because of its strong smell, it is often referred to as Black Stinking Horehound.

The horehound mostly found growing near towns and villages. It has a perennial root of a woody and fibrous nature. Horehound leaves are arranged in pairs on the stem. Each pair is connected to the stem at right angles to the pair next to it. The leaves of the horehound plant have distinguished stalks with margins that are coarsely serrated. They are dull green in color with surfaces covered in soft gray hairs and conspicuous veins.

Horehound flowers are arranged in whorls that are more or less dense. They are connected to the axils of the leaves. When in bloom, they are occasionally colored white.

Health Benefits

Since the ancient times, the horehound was believed to have properties that make it an antidote for the bite of a mad dog. The Greek Dioscorides, along with some notable characters in ancient history, shared this belief. Beaumont and Fletcher referred to this plant in their poem, Faithful Shepherdess. They wrote: “This is the clote bearing a yellow flower; And this black horehound: both very good; For sheep or shepherd bitten by a wood-Dog’s venom’d tooth.”

If the Greeks believed in the horehound’s anti-mad-dog bite properties, over time however, the plant became more popular as a traditional remedy for cough. Roman physician, Galen recommended a horehound concoction as a therapy for coughs and other respiratory ailments. Following Galen’s footsteps, Nicholas Culpepper, the 17th-century English pharmacist, believed that horehound is indeed helpful for a cough. He further added that the herb can also aid in removing stubborn phlegm from the lung. This spurred several eclectic physicians in America to use the plant’s apparent medicinal value against coughs, asthma, and menstrual complaints in the 19th century.

The herb’s soothing power makes it a good alternative to cough medicine as a tea or lozenge. A kind of cough syrup may also be created by concocting the wooly leaves and white flowering tops of the horehound plant. The syrup works by stimulating phlegm or mucus production to increase output and clear the airways. Colds, bronchitis, and other minor respiratory problems often respond to horehound treatment well.

Buying Information

The active constituents of this herb include alkaloids, flavonoids, diterpenes (marrubiin), and trace of volatile oils. When shopping for horehound supplements, be sure to look for all these vital substances in the label. The recommended dosage for adults is approximately ¾ teaspoon (4.5 g) of horehound per day or 2-6 tablespoons (30-90 ml) of the pressed juice.

Forskolin

The traditional Indian practice, called Ayurvedic medicine, made great use of the herb Coleus forskohlii. They used the herb to treat asthma, heart disease, and a range of other ailments. This small herb belongs to the mint family and is native to Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Nepal.

Herbal Uses

For centuries, Coleus forskohlii is an important traditional Ayuverdic herb that has been a part of Indian medicine. In the 1970s, researchers were able to isolate an active chemical ingredient in Coleus forskohlii. They believed that this ingredient, called forskolin, is the chief reason why Coleus forskohlii seems to be effective in treating countless ailments.

How Forskolin Works

Forskolin is derived from the roots of the Indian plant, Coleus forskohlii. Forskolin acts by directly activating the adenylate cyclase and raising cyclic AMP levels in a variety of tissues. Forskolin’s action on cyclic AMP is considered very important since this is the compound that regulates the cells. Once cyclic AMP is formed through action from forskolin, this substance activates many other enzymes as well, creating a pandemonium of actions and reactions within the body. As a result, a diverse number of cellular functions are encouraged.

Under normal situations, cyclic AMP is formed when a stimulatory hormone, such as epihephrine, binds to a receptor site on the cell membrane. The hormone would then stimulate the activation of adenylate cyclase. All cellular membranes contain the enzyme, adenylate cyclase with specific receptors that determines which hormone will activate in particular cell. With the addition of forskolin, you are able to bypass this hormonal activation by adenylate cyclase.

Because forskolin can directly activate adenylate cyclase, intracellular cyclic AMP levels rise. By raising the intracellular cyclic AMP levels, certain beneficial physiological and biochemical effects occur. These include inhibition of platelet activation, inhibition of mast cell degranulation, inhibition of histamine release, increased force of contraction of heart muscle, relaxation of the arteries and other smooth muscles, increased insulin secretion, and increased thyroid function.

Forskolin: Other Uses

Forskolin is available in supplemental form. Forskolin extract is used and recommended for treatments against thyroid conditions, such as hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too little thyroid hormone. This insufficient supply of thyroid sometimes leads to enlargement of the gland, a condition known as goiter.

Forskolin is believed to stimulate the thyroid gland and increase production of the thyroid hormone. Thus, in effect, forskolin helps relieve such symptoms in hypothyroidism as fatigue, depression, weight gain, and dry skin. By activating an enzyme, Forskolin is also thought to specifically increase thyroid function. This enzyme causes levels of cyclic AMP (Adenosine Monophosphate), a key cell-regulating substance.

In addition to hypothyroidism, quite a number of other conditions that are seemingly unrelated have been linked to low levels of cyclic AMP. Therefore, theoretically, these ailments may be treated using forskolin. These ailments that which can be treated through forskolin include asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma, eczema, and psoriasis. Studies have been conducted to examine the benefits of forskolin in easing the symptoms of these ailments.

Typically, forskolin is taken over the long term for treatment of hypothyroidism. It should be noted however that using forskolin in addition to thyroid hormone replacement therapy is not recommended.

Native American herbal remedy

Native American herbal remedy pertains to the healing beliefs and practices of the indigenous people of North America. The Native American herbal remedy comprised of spirituality, herbalism and magic in curing all sorts of ailments from common colds to depression.

Healing methods of the Native American tribes were varied. But the four most common practices include:

- The presence of healers called ‘medicine men’ or ‘medicine women’.

- The use of herbal remedies

- Use of purification or purging ritual

- Observance of symbolic rituals and ceremonies

Native American herbal remedy required young people to go through a number of mentally and physically tough ceremonies and training. The Medicine Man who practiced Native American herbal remedy was considered almost immortal at that time. Native American herbal remedy believes in the harmony of nature and that each is connected with the other. Native American herbal remedy also believes in the presence of spirit world corresponding to every human and object. These spirits can enhance health or cause illness. The main idea of Native American herbal remedy revolves around spiritual rejuvenation and sense of physical, emotional and communal harmony. A healer is necessary in the Native American herbal remedy as intermediary to the spiritual world. Healers or trained herbalists prescribe herbal remedies. They could also use purification rituals to cleanse the body. Community coming together is another form of treatment. Patients are often surrounded by praying or chanting family and friends.

These herbal remedies should not be used to replace medications recommended by doctors but as complements to them. Some of the Native American herbal remedy includes the following:

Skunk cabbage. This is a Native American herbal remedy to treat asthma.

Horsemint. This is medicine used by Native American to treat backache pains.

Yellow-spined thistle. This is a Native American herbal remedy to treat burns.

Patridgeberry and blue cohosh. These are used for faster childbirth.

American Licorice and broom snakeweed. These are for delivery of the placenta during childbirth.

Wild black cherry and cotton are used to relieve pain of childbirth.

Boneset. This is Native American herbal remedy used for colds.

Catnip. This is Native American herbal remedy for colic.

Aspen, Wild cherry, white pine and sarsaparilla. These herbs are used to treat coughs.

Wild carrot and devil’s club. These herbs were used for diabetes.

Dandelion and yellow root are used for digestive disorders.

Dogwood, willow and feverwort were used for fevers.

White oak was used to treat hemorrhoids.

Witch hazel was Native American herbal remedy for inflammations and swellings.

Native hemlock was used to treat influenza.

Goldenseal was used as an insect repellent and insecticide.

Pokeweed and bloodroot were used to treat rheumatism.

Wild black cherry, hops and wild lettuce were used as sedatives.

Geranium and persimmon were Native American herbal remedy for children affected with thrush.

Kava

Believed to originate from Melanesia, Kava is an age-old herbal drink favored by royal families of the South Pacific. Where the plant is abundant in the sun-drenched islands of Polynesia, natives drank kava for hundreds of years.

In 1768-1771, the voyager Captain James Cook and his crew were among the first white men who encountered the plant. According to Cook, kava was consumed in sacred ceremonies. Natives chewed or pounded the root and mixed it with water to produce a brew that is brownish and often bitter in taste which they then drink for its psychoactive properties.

As with many traditional plants, folklore and myths surround kava and its properties. In Oceania, kava is regarded as a gift from the gods given to man so that he might gain insight into the unknown while attending to the realities of the present.

A Tongan legend relates the story of a couple. In a time of drought, Feva’anga and his wife killed their daughter who is a leper in order to feed the chief of their village. But instead, the chief told Feva’anga to bury the body and bring back the plant that grows on the grave. Weeks after, a plant indeed grew from the leper’s grave. It was observed later that a mouse chewed on the root of the plant, fell into a coma, and reawakened. This became the origins of the powers of the kava plant as an intoxicant.

The Plant

Kava bears the botanical name of Piper methysticum. Sometimes called kava-kava or awa, the kava plant belongs to the pepper family Piperacea. It thrives in tropical areas and is in great abundance in the islands of Melanesia, particularly Vanuatu and Fiji, and the Polynesian islands. The kava is a shrub, growing up to 3 meters high with many stems. The leaves of the kava plant are green with large blades and circular in shape.

Health Benefits

Kava was widely used throughout Oceania and other Pacific islands as a relaxant. Kava was said to have properties that could calm nerves, induce relaxation and sleep, and fight fatigue. It was also drunk as a diuretic to unclog urinary tracts and relieve asthma and rheumatism. People suffering from headaches, cramps, syphilis and gonorrhea were said to benefit by drinking kava. The plant is believed to restore strength and many islanders drink it for that reason. It could also provide a soothing effect for stomach pains and cure such ailments as boils.

The basic part of the kava plant that is used for medicinal purposes is the root, but some people also use the leaves which have healing properties of their own. Some people fumigated the leaves and used the extract to treat general illnesses.

As early as 1886, scientific records mentioned kava as a nonprescription drug to reduce anxiety. Today, kava root is touted as a natural tranquilizer. The bitter-tasting drink is wildly available as a supplement to provide relief to some people who are seeking alternatives to prescription drugs.

Recent clinical studies show evidence that the herb kava is non-addictive, making it safe to use as a drug to relieve anxiety. Based on comparative studies, kava was found to be as effective as prescription anxiety agents containing benzodiazepines such as valium, and perhaps even better. Studies have shown that kava can improve concentration, memory, and reaction time for people suffering from anxiety while benzodiazepines tend to promote lethargy and mental impairment. Kava has therefore become a means of achieving a state of relaxation minus the adverse side effects.

Coltsfoot

Derived from the name Farfarus, which is an ancient name of the White Poplar, coltsfoot is an herb that grows abundantly throughout England, especially along the corners and sides of the railway banks as well as in waste places, poor stiff soils, and in wet grounds. Structurally, coltsfoot has a long-stalked and a hoof-shaped leaves for about four inches across and it has a lanky teeth on the edges. When this herb is young, both the surfaces are covered with white and felted woolly hairs that is anciently rubs off. Prior to the introduction of matches, this felted covering is enveloped in a rag that is dipped in a solution of saltpeter and then dried in the sun for the purpose of making it excellent tinder.

For centuries, the leaves, roots and even flowers of the coltsfoot have been applied medicinally. In the ancient times, the people, especially the herbalists, used the coltsfoot to lessen coughs that caused by all types of conditions. In fact, coltsfoot was thought specifically helpful for those who are affected by chronic coughs, like those due to silicosis and emphysema.

Coltsfoot leaf was also approved as a good treatment for soar throats especially in the German Commission E monograph; however, such function of the coltsfoot has been banned in Germany for internal application.

In terms of its constituents, the coltsfoot generally contains bitter glycosides, mucilage, and tannins that are considered as the major constituents of the herb. With these constituents, coltsfoot is then believed to have an antitissuve, which is a property responsible for cough prevention and treatment, and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, the pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which are powerfully toxic, are also contained in the herb.

The traditional use of coltsfoot as a treatment for coughs remains for centuries up to these days. As one of the most well-known treatment for coughs, coltsfoot is usually given along with the other herbs that possess some pectoral properties like Marshmallow, Horehound, and Ground Ivy, to mention a few.

Hence the botanical name of coltsfoot, Tussilago means “cough dispeller” many people believed that coltsfoot is best for the lungs, thus it is called “nature’s best herb for the lungs and her most eminent thoracic”. Generally, the leaves of coltsfoot are smoked by those who wanted to find relief for their cough. And due to such popularity, the leaves of this herb are then the basis of the Tobacco, which is the popular British herb.

In relation to that, many people that smoking the leaves of coltsfoot will relive asthma as well as the hard breathing of old bronchitis. In fact, there are some claims that those who are suffering from catarrh, asthma, and other lung difficulties find much benefit from smoking the leaves of coltsfoot.

From the herb, the coltsfoot tea is made for the same purpose and the Coltsfoot Rock, for years, has been considered a domestic remedy for coughs. A syrup form is also made from its flower-stalks, which is now much suggested for the purpose of treating chronic bronchitis.

However, before taking the herb supplement for the treatment of coughs and lung difficulties, one should consider that the coltsfoot root is not recommended for internal use since it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are potential for liver toxicity. And those who have used it must know that coltsfoot is not used for more than a month consecutively unless it is recommended by the doctor.

Pyridoxine Vitamin B6

Vitamin B6 is also called pyridoxine. B6 is a part of Vitamin B complex which is water-soluble and is necessary for body health. Pyridoxine is vital for maintaining hormonal balance in women, in enhancing the immune system and the growth of new cells. It is also a factor in the processing and metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates at the same time controlling your mood and behavior. Pyridoxine also helps children with learning difficulties and helps in preventing dandruff, eczema and psoriasis. It helps in balancing sodium and potassium also aids in production of red blood cell. It is involved with the nucleic acids RNA and DNA. And it is associated with cancer immunity and combats the formation of toxic chemical homocysteine which is harmful to the heart muscle.

Lack of Vitamin B6’s pyridoxine in women could result to results in mood swings, depression and loss of sexual drive when the person is on hormone replacement therapy or taking birth control pills. Symptoms noticed particularly in women include suffering from pre-menstrual fluid retention, severe period pains, emotional PMS symptoms, premenstrual ace and nausea in early pregnancy.

General symptoms in Vitamin B6 deficiency include irritability, nervousness, insomnia, general weakness, skin changes such as dermatitis and acne, asthma and allergies. There are also noticeable ridged in nails, inflamed tongue and changed to the bones including osteoporosis and arthritis. Kidney stones may possibly appear. Lack of Vitamin B6 has similar symptoms to those of B2 and B3 deficiency. Vitamin B6 is a necessary ingredient so the body can manufacture its own vitamin B3.

The minimum dosage for Vitamin B6 is 2 mg for males and females per day. This is only the least dosage required by the body in order to prevent deficiency of Vitamin B6. If B6 is used for therapeutic purposes, the dosage should be increased without going beyond the maximum level or in overdose to prevent toxicity.

Excessive dosage of Vitamin B6 which means in excess of 2,000 mg per day could possibly result in neurological damage. Persons taking medication for Parkinson’s disease should exercise caution in taking Vitamin B6 since it can inactivate levo-dopa. People who take B6 right before bedtime sometimes usually experience very vivid dreams.

The pyridoxine content in Vitamin B6 is best taken with the entire B complex vitamins. The quantity of B6 taken should be nearly the same as B2 because B2 is needed to activate the pyridoxine content in Vitamin B6. Vitamin C also enhances the effect of B6. Magnesium, sodium, potassium, zinc, linoleic acid and fatty acids also promote effectives of vitamin B6.

If you are taking antidepressants, contraceptive pills or in hormone replacement therapy, you should take more of B6. This vitamin is lost in urine and should be taken regular in order to maintain adequate amount in the body. Those with very high protein diet or using alcohol or allergic to mono sodium glutamate (MSG) and/or tartrazine should take more of B6.

Pyridoxine content of Vitamin B6 is sensitive to sunlight; cooking and processing Cortison can impede pyridoxine absorption. Exercising may help the production of B6 active form. Food rich in Vitamin B6 include: brewer’s yeast, eggs, chicken, carrots, fish, liver, kidneys, peas, wheat germ and walnuts.

Nettle

Nettle herb is derived from the Nettle tribe or Urticaceae which is found all over the world and has about 500 species that are mainly tropical although there are some nettle that do thrive in temperate climates.

Nettle, lesser can be found throughout the mild regions of Europe and Asia. It is heart-shaped, finely toothed leaves tapered to a point and the green flowers with long, branched clusters spring from the axils of the leaves. Nettle flowers are incomplete, male or the barren flowers have stamen only. And the female or fertile flowers have pistil or seed-producing organs. Sometimes, these flowers are to be found on one plant.

Medicinal Uses of the Nettle

The Nettle herb is gathered just before coming into flower and dried in the usual manner. When the nettle is collected for drying, it should be only on a fine day specifically in the morning when the sun has dried off the dew. Cut off just above the root; do not include stained or insect-eaten leaves and tie in bunches consisting of six to ten in a bunch, spread the nettles fanwise to enable air to penetrate freely to all parts. Hang the bunch over strings. If dried in the open, keep them in half-shade and bring indoors before getting damp from dew or rain. If you dry nettle indoors, hang up in sunny room in a well-ventilated room. Window must be left open by day to allow free current of air and for the warm air to come out. The bunch should be of uniform size and length for easy packing. When dried, they should be packed in airtight boxes to prevent moisture be reabsorbed from air. Seeds and flowers are dried in the sun or stove. Wholesale herbalists still use the nettle. Homoeopathic chemists use the herb for the preparation of tincture.

Nettle is used to relieve asthma. The juice of the roots or leaves mixed it with honey or sugar can relieve bronchial and asthmatic troubles. The dried leaves if burnt and inhaled will have the same effect. The seeds are taken in wineglassful doses. The seeds and flowers are used to relieve ague. Powdered seeds help cure goiter and reduces excessive corpulency.

The seeds taken inwardly are used by old Herbals as an antidote for stings or bites of venomous creatures and mad dogs and poisoning by Hemlock, Henbane and Nightshade. Tea made from the roots of nettle can help relieve kidney. Nettle can be used as a hair tonic by simmering a handful of young nettles in a quart of water for 2 hours, strain and bottle when cold. Saturate the scalp with this lotion every other night to prevent hair fall and for a soft and glossy hair. Another good Nettle hair lotion can be done by boiling the entire plant in vinegar and water, strain then add Eau de Cologne. To stimulate hair growth, comb the hair with Nettle juice. The homoeopathic tincture of Nettle is made up of 2 oz of the herb to 1 pint of proof spirit. The powder of the dried herb is administered in doses of 5 to 10 grains.

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