Elder

In history, the elder plant is awash with folklore, romance, and superstition. Shakespeare used the plant as a symbol of grief and referred to it as “the stinking Elder” in Cymbeline. And in another one of his works, Love’s Labour Lost, he propagated the medieval belief that “Judas was hanged on an Elder.” Why people should identify the Elder with the traitor Apostle is puzzling but its constant reference in literature as Judas’ gallows subsequently caused superstition, magic, and fancies to hover over it.

Yet despite history’s treatment of the tree, it has from its earliest days managed to claim firmly on the popular affections of the people. Herbalists regarded it highly because of its many uses.

Health Benefits

The Elder, Sambucus nigra (Black Elder) is a medicinal chest by itself. Its uses are manifold and important. For years, it has been used for a whole range of things from dye-making, insect repellent, poultices, ointments, wines, jellies. Even the wood of the Elder tree was used to make musical instruments.

All parts of the tree can be used for medicinal purposes. The roots are the only exceptions. The Elder’s roots can induce vomiting and it has been found that some species of Sambucus are highly poisonous.

The flowers, whose smell some people detest, contain the flavonoids, rutin and quercertin which have anti-catarrhal properties. These same blooms of the Elder tree can also be used to cure inflammations due to swellings, bruises, sprains, and wounds. Aside from that, they have their beauty purposes too. The flowers have been known to whiten and soften the skin when used as a wash. As a tea, they are used as a laxative and have been known to promote perspiration and expectoration.

The Elder leaves are purgative with expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoric actions. Extracts derived from the Elder tree do not taste good so if you’re looking for a sweet-tasting herbal drink, you won’t find one made from Elder. Wine, however, now that’s possible.

You probably heard of Elderberry wine. Warm, smooth, and palatable. The berries of the tree are probably more on food uses than on the medicinal. However, the wine made from Elderberries may promote perspiration. Some people have used it as an alternative to laxative with its many aperient, diuretic, and emetic properties.

The bark of the tree is a strong purgative. It’s also an effective diuretic.

Dosage and Side Effects

The Elder tree has a few side effects that you need to watch out for. The roots, stems, leaves, and unripe berries may contain poisonous substances. These substances may induce nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. For a safe, internal use of elderberry, limit yourself to using the dried flowers or syrups made from ripe berries.

The general dosage of children is 1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of black elderberry extract syrup. For adults, 2 teaspoons-2 tablespoons can be taken twice daily. Taken as a tea, use ½-1 teaspoon of dried flowers steeped in 1 cup boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes may be drunk three times per day.

Vitamin C and flavonoids

Vitamin C and flavonoids are often associated with each other. This is because flavonoids which refer to some 4,000 antioxidant compounds that is the cause for the color and a number of health benefits of fruits, vegetables and herbs helps in the absorption of vitamin C in the body. In short, flavonoids make vitamin C even more effective. Essential flavonoids include quercetin, rutin, genistin, grape seed extract and naringen.

It is also more practical to use the combination supplement since you won’t have to buy many pills. And the combination of vitamin C and flavonoids have cured numerous ailments such as sprains and strains to cancer prevention.

The benefits that you can derive from vitamin C and flavonoids are varied. Vitamin C helps in the following:

- Vitamin C is vital for the synthesis of collagen in connective tissue, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, carnitine, conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and increases iron availability. It is also an antioxidant and protect the body against pollutants.

- Vitamin C is a biological reducing agent that aids in preventing degenerative diseases such as cancers, cataracts and cardiovascular diseases.

- It also supports healthy cell development, proper calcium absorption, normal tissue growth and repair, aids in prevention of blood clot and bruising and strengthens capillary walls.

- Vitamin C is important for healthy gums, protects against infection and clear up infections, improve immune system, decrease cholesterol levels and high blood pressure and prevents arteriosclerosis.

Flavonoids on the other hand have the following health-promoting benefits:

- Flavonoids increases the action of vitamin C. That is why taking vitamin C and flavonoids together are highly recommended.

- It is effective as pain reliever, lessens the symptoms of : prolonged bleeding, low serum calcium and oral herpes.

- It is vital in preserving structures of capillaries, have antibacterial effect and supports circulation. It aids in the production of bile, reducing blood cholesterol levels and in preventing and treating cataracts.

- It increases the absorption of vitamin C.

- Vitamin C and flavonoids help maintain the thin walls of capillaries to prevent bleeding and bruising.

- Flavonoids are associated with antibacterial effect, promotes circulation and fights allergies and others.

When either vitamin C or flavonoids nutrient are used in high dosage, caution must be exercised. In using vitamin C and flavonoids as treatment, refer to the following recommended dosages:

To treat ADHD, take 1,000 mg of vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg every morning.

To treat acute bronchitis, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg twice daily.

To treat chronic bronchitis, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg once a day.

To prevent cancer, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg twice daily.

To treat canker sores, take 500-1,000 mg of vitamin C and flavonoids of 25-500 mg three times daily.

To treat cold sores, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg three times daily.

To treat earache, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg three times daily until infection clears.

To treat gum disease, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg once a day.

To treat hemorrhoids, take 750-1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 250-500 mg three times daily.

To treat impotence, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg once a day.

To treat rosacea, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500-650 mg twice daily.

To treat shingles, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg three times daily if acute.

To treat sinusitis, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg three times daily.

To treat strains and sprains, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg three times daily.

To treat varicose veins, take 1,000 mg vitamin C and flavonoids of 500 mg twice daily.

Flavonoids

You’ve probably heard of antioxidants before. Antioxidants act as cell protectors. The air we breathe contains Oxygen which is an essential element of life. However, Oxygen can also be damaging to our body. It creates by-products, called free radicals, which can be damaging during normal cellular metabolism. If left unchecked, free radicals may cause anything from heart damage, cataracts, and even cancer because they can weaken our body’s immune system. To counteract these free radicals before they can do damage to the cell, antioxidants bind with them.

Antioxidants come in several forms – Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotenoids, and flavonoids. Next to Vitamin C, flavonoids are the most important antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables. But what exactly are flavonoids?

Flavonoids: An Introduction

In organic chemistry, flavonoids are described as polyphenolic compounds possessing 15 carbon atoms; two benzene rings joined by linear three carbon chain. So flavonoids are carbon-based elements. That means they’re organic. No wonder flavonoids constitute one of the most characteristic classes of compound sin higher plants. You can easily recognize many flavonoids as flower pigments in most angiosperm families or flowering plants. However, flavonoids do not only occur in flowers, but in all parts of the plant, namely, the fruit, stem, seeds, leaves, and even roots.

How are Flavonoids Good for You?

More and more researchers are beginning to probe into the once-hidden depths of foods and they’re discovering that vitamins and minerals aren’t all there is to it. Flavonoids, they discovered, or bioflavonoids as some like to refer to them, are perhaps one of the largest group of “other” nutrients Researchers have identified more than 4,000 of these organic substances in plants.

Like carotenes, flavonoids are plant pigments. They are the substances that give plants their various colors. And like carotenes, many flavonoids are antioxidants and they help protect plants from damaging free radicals. One distinct difference is that flavonoids are water soluble while carotenes are oil soluble.

Flavonoids and the French Paradox

If you still haven’t figured out how flavonoids can do for your health, then take the “French Paradox” as a clue. The paradox of the French is that they eat almost four times more butter and three times more lard than Americans do. This means that compared to Americans, the French have higher cholesterol levels and blood pressures. Yet, the French are 2.5 times less likely to die of coronary heart disease than the average American. Now why is that?

Many people have suggested that the answer lies in the French liberal consumption of red wine, a substance rich in beneficial antioxidants such as flavonoids that protect against coronary heart disease and apparently lowers down cholesterol levels. In addition, flavonoids in French red wine can also prevent abnormal blood clots, thus reducing the risk of heart angina or atherosclerosis. In fact, at least eight medical studies have found that a glass or two of wine daily protects against heart disease.

Flavonoids for Long Life

Ever wonder why Asians have apparently longer lifespan than Westerns? Most attribute it to the Asian’s propensity to drink tea. The Chinese especially are fond of herbal teas, such as the common green tea and black tea. Apparently, these two teas contains about 25-30 per cent flavonoids, including quercetin and gallic esters. Like those in grapes and other fruits and vegetables, they also protect against heart disease.

Marshmallow

Marshmallow – that white floating thing in a cup of steaming cocoa. Aside from being little more than just glorified fluffy sweets, we only know marshmallows from barbecue nights when we skewer these fluffs with a sharp stick and roast them over a campfire. Knowing this, it is therefore hard to believe that the marshmallow is anything but an ordinary sugary confection.

According to ancient history, the marshmallow actually has created for itself a niche in traditional medicine. This sweet actually got its name from a plant – the marshmallow. The marshmallow plant was used by early 19th century scholars who extracted juice from its roots and used it for sore throats.

The Plant

The marshmallow plant is so named because of its habit of growing in swampy, moist areas, known as marshes. The marshmallow belongs to the genus Hibiscus, the same group of ornamental plants common in Florida.

The marsh mallow produces showy white, pink-and-white, or pink flowers. The sweets we call marshmallows today are actually based on the size of these flowers, hence, the name. The botanical name of the “true” marshmallow plant is Althaea officinalis. It is native to Europe and brought to American as a medicinal plant.

Health Benefits

In Europe, where it is said to originate from, the marshmallow has been used as food and medicine. The practice of using marshmallow as an herbal medicine dates back to the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Traditional herbalists of today still continue to regard marshmallow as a medicine with anti-inflammatory properties. It was also used as treatment for respiratory tract problems, skin problems, and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Sweet confections were made by extracting the juice from the roots and mixing it with egg white and sugar, forming a sort of meringue. When this substance hardens, the physicians during the early times gave it to children as hard candy used to treat sore throats.

Rudolf Weiss, the esteemed German physician and herbal authority recommended the marshmallow to counter irritations in the mouth and throat. The herb was also used to treat dry, irritating coughs. Moreover, Weiss believed that topical application of the herb on the skin can help cure mild cases of eczema.

Like most mallows, the marshmallow has leaves and flowers that are rich in mucilage. This substance is made of complex carbohydrates which lends the herb its soothing properties. The marshmallow is also rich in flavonoids and anthocyanidins. These substances help boost the action of anti-bodies in fighting off disease causing germs.

Classified as a demulcent in herbal medicine, the plant acts as a soothing agent that can reverse the effects of irritation and reduce inflammations. The marshmallow proves such an excellent soothing agent for respiratory ailments that the German Commission E approved the use of its leaves and flowers as relief for sore throats and dry coughs. For these indications, the marshmallow is used as a tea by making the leaves and flowers undergo the process of oxidization. Moreover, extract taken from the plant’s leaves and flowers may also be gargled with almost the same effects.

Product Information

Marshmallow is best known for its beneficial properties in fighting against coughs and sore throats. It may also have other uses but as of this time, little evidence has been found to support the other claims. For best results against dry coughs, boil 2 to 4 teaspoons of the dried leaves or flowers in 150 ml of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink one cup of tea three times per day.

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.

Hawthorn

Known by several names, the Hawthorn tree first became popular when it was used as the badge of the Ogilvies. Yet, even before that, the tree was revered as sacred as it was traditionally believed to be the tree that furnished Christ’s Crown of Thorns. A tree that commonly blooms in May, it is also sometimes referred to as “Mayblossom” or simply “May.”

England’s Henry VII used the Hawthorn bush as his device because a small crown from the helmet of Richard III was discovered hanging on it after the battle of Bosworth. This became the source of the popular saying: “Cleve to thy Crown though it hangs on a bush.”

Other names for this tree include Quick, Thorn, Whitethorn, Haw, Hazels, Gazels, Halves, Hagthorn, Ladie’s Meat, and Bread and Cheese Tree. Germans call it Hagedorn while the French bestow upon it a more noble title “L’epine noble” (The Noble Spine).

The Plant

Hawthorn is known in scientific communities as Crataegus oxyacantha. It belongs to the plant family, N.O. Rosaceae. The name of the Hawthorn plant is derived from the Greek words “kratos”, meaning hardness (of the wood), “oxcus” (sharp), and “akantha” (a thorn). From a very early period, the Germans used the Hawthorn plant to divide their land into small plots using this plant, which they call “Hagedorn” (Hedgethorn). Interestingly, the alternate name for Hawthorn is “Haw” which is an old word for “hedge.”

Hawthorn trees usually grow up to a height of 30 feet and live to a great age. Each Hawthorn blossom contains a single seed-vessel producing a separate fruits. When the fruits mature, they turn a brilliant red, making some wonder how they resemble a miniature stony apple. People of some districts call the mealy red fruits of the Hawthorn tree as Pixie Pears, Cuckoo’s Beads, and Chucky Cheese.

Carrion insects are mostly the ones that fertilize the flowers. The reason for this is that the Hawthorn blooms exude a scent that suggests of decomposition, thus attracting these insects that would normally lay their eggs and hatch out their larvae in decaying animal matter.

Health Benefits

Since the ancient times, Hawthorn has been used by the Greeks as a medicine. Herbalists used extracts from Hawthorn leaves for the treatment of heart problems such as angina, arrhythmia, and high blood pressure. Hawthorn was also used as an effective deterrent against the occurrence of a heart attack. Today, recent studies have show considerable evidence that the herb may have some positive effects for angina and heart disease.

The main constituents attributed with all the healing properties of Hawthorn are its variety of bioflavonoids and flavonoids. These include oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), vitexin, vitexin 4’-O-rhamnoside, quercetin, and hyperoside.

Hawthorn is said to primarily affect the circulatory system, specifically the heart and blood vessels. The abundance of flavonoids and bioflavonoids in Hawthorn makes it effective in improving coronary artery blood flow and strengthening the contractions of the heart muscle.

Researchers have examined the plant and its effects on blood pressure. Results from their clinical trials have confirmed that hawthorn leaf and flower extracts are beneficial for people with early-stage heart disease.

Buying Information

The part of the Hawthorn plant used for medicinal purposes are the leaves, flowers, and berry fruits so be sure to look for all three or either of that when you buy hawthorn supplements. A normal safe dose is 80-300 mg hawthorn capsules or tablets. Traditionally, 4-5 ml tincture taken three times a day has been used.

Licorice

Licorice, or Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a European plant belonging to the pulse family, Leguminosae. The root of the licorice plant when pounded or pressed produces a sweet substance for which it was widely known. Since time immemorial, the licorice root has been used for medicinal purposes. It was used as a laxative and as a treatment for coughs. It was also brewed for confectionery and for flavoring, e.g. in some tobacco.

The Plant

The licorice is a perennial plant with blue pea-like blossoms. It is mainly cultivated in the Middle East, although a subspecies of it, the wild licorice Glycyrrhiza lepidota, is native to North America. As of today, there are 14 known varieties of the licorice plant. Most of them are found in several Asiatic regions, Southeast Europe, and Persia.

The licorice plant has long graceful stems and lightly spreading, pinnate foliage. From a distance, they present an almost feathery appearance because of their tiny leaflets which resemble those of the False Acacia. During the night, the leaves hang down on each side of the midrib. The flowers are small growing from the axils of the leaves. Licorice flowers are purplish in color and sometimes pale-blue, violet, or yellowish-white. At the height of maturity, small pods are formed which somewhat resemble a partly grown peapod.

Health Benefits

The licorice plant has a long history in herbal medicine and folk healing. The record of its uses is long and varied. In Ancient China, licorice is considered among the most important herbs in traditional medicine. It is used chiefly as a demulcent for its soothing and coating effects in the digestive and urinary tracts. In addition, Chinese folk healers used it to cure a whole range of conditions, including diabetes and tuberculosis.

Since the ancient times, the plant has been frequently used in connection with the treatment for coughs, sore throats, and as a flavoring. In fact, it got its name from the Greek word for “sweet root.”

More recent studies have shown that licorice contains compounds, called glycyrrhizin and flavonoids. Glyccyrrhizin, according to test-tube studies, has anti-inflammatory properties and may have inhibiting actions that prevent the breakdown of cortisol, an important substance produced by the body.

Although it remains to be proven to work in humans, licorice may also have anti-viral properties. The flavonoids found in this herb are potent antioxidants that work to protect several organs of the body, most importantly the liver. Chalcones, which are closely related to flavonoids may also help heal digestive tract cells. Preliminary studies on the effects of licorice have shown that the flavonoids can kill the ulcer-causing bacteria, Helicobacter pylori. These bacteria are also responsible for most stomach inflammations.

Liquiritin, an extract produced from licorice, has been used as a treatment for melasma, a pigmentation disorder of the skin. According to a study conducted by medical researchers, 70% improvement is observed on melasma patients after a twice daily topical application of liquiritin cream for a period of four weeks.

Buying Information

When using licorice, remember that there are two types available in the market. The first is the “standard” licorice which contains glycyrrhizin and used for respiratory infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, or herpes. The second type is called the “de-glycyrrhizinated” licorice used to treat conditions of the digestive tract, such as ulcers.

Licorice is available in capsules or in tablets. For canker sores, de-gycyrrhizinated licorice in powdered form is recommended.

Vitamin C

In 18th century, sailors accidentally discovered that by sucking on lemons they could prevent scurvy. This disease often develops during long voyages when supplies of fresh fruits and vegetables are not available. In 1928, the key nutrient of lemon was discovered and named ascorbic acid because of its capacity to fight scurvy or antiscorbutic action which is another name for Vitamin C.

Vitamin C provides a number of health benefits to the human body. These include the following:

- It reduces the severity and length of colds and flu. It is good to take Vitamin C at the start of cold or flu to keep the illness from developing fully and thereby resulting to faster recovery.

- Wounds heal at a faster rate and minimize bruising. Vitamin C assist in repair and maintenance of the body by reinforcing cell walls and strengthening blood vessels called capillaries. It also stops inflammation.

- It makes gums healthy. Daily intake of vitamin C protects the tissue of the gums against cell damage and makes healing faster. It is best taken with flavonoids. Brushing gums with Vitamin C powder can minimize inflammation and bleeding.

- Enhances resistance to heart disease by improving cholesterol levels. Low levels of vitamin C cause greater risk of angina and heart attacks. If taken with vitamin E, it protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation preventing plaque buildup in coronary arteries.

- It prevents certain cancers. Its antioxidant properties are valuable in fighting cancer by protecting healthy cells from free-radical damage and impeding the spread of cancer cells.

- It protects against cataracts. Vitamin C prevents damage to the eye due to ultraviolet (UV) light and cigarette smoke.

- It relieves allergies, eczema, sinusitis and asthma. Vitamin C contains natural antihistamine which blocks the effect of inflammatory substances produced to counter allergens.

- It improves memory. It is vital in maintaining healthy nerve cells and is combined with vitamin E, mixed carotenoids, ginkgo biloba and coenzyme Q10 to treat memory loss.

- It combats chronic fatigue syndrome. If mixed with carotenoids, it strengthens immune system.

- It controls gallstone formation by lowering bile cholesterol levels.

- It fights the effects of aging. If combined with other antioxidants such as vitamin E and flavonoids, vitamin C may counter the aging process.

Vitamin C comes in tablet, powder, liquid and capsule formulations. The recommended intake for vitamin C for men and women who don’t smoke is 60 mg a day. For smokers, 100 mg. per day. Just 10 mg of vitamin C is enough to prevent scurvy. But less than 50 mg may lead to an increased risk of heart attack and cataracts.

Excessive vitamin C intake is not always possible because this vitamin is water soluble and is eliminated in the urine and feces in 12 hours. There are other people though that may suffer from mouth ulcers, diarrhea, gas and bloating at 2,000 mg doses.

To gain more benefits from vitamin C, take it with antioxidants. Flavonoids also increase the benefits of vitamin C. For general health, take 500 mg a day. For treatment, take 1,000 to 6,000 mg per day. Split the dose beyond 1,000 mg into three or more doses per day. Large doses of vitamin c may impede with absorption of copper and selenium. If you have hemochromatosis, don’t take more than 500 mg a day of vitamin C. It can cause inaccuracy of medical tests for colon cancer and hemoglobin levels.

Chamomile

The term “chamomile” is commonly heard in different infocommercials today. But did you know that chamomile is a medicinal herb? Yes, it is. In fact, chamomile is one of the safest medicinal herbs, that it is a tender relaxant with comforting effect. It has been demonstrated from different studies that chamomile works for various complaints, and stress and menstrual pain are just among the many concerns.

Chamomile is essentially an herb that has a gratifying and apple-like aroma and taste. Its name “chamomile” derives from the Greek word kamai melon, which means ground apple. This herb is most often taken as a luscious and mild therapeutic tea. And today, the concentrated extracts of this herb are added to some healing lotions and creams or packaged as tinctures and pills.

There are two important species of chamomile that is often used for its healing powers and they interestingly work proportionally well. Those are the German chamomile and the Roman chamomile. In central Europe and North America, it is basically the German chamomile products, which are sometimes called “Hungarian”, that are the most widely available. And in Great Britain, the Roman chamomile is the one that is commonly sold.

While chamomile is widely known as antispasmodic and muscle relaxant, it is also interesting to know that this herb has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. The herb’s healing powers usually taken from its daisy-like flowers that greatly contain some volatile oils involving bisabolol oxides A and B, bisabolol, and matricin. The flowers also contain flavonoids, which are specifically compounds known as apinegin, and some other therapeutic substances. And as the safest medicinal herb, chamomile may be applied either internally or externally.

Chamomile, with its anti-anxiety property, specifically helps to promote general relaxation and it provides relief to stress. It is also useful for controlling insomnia for it has a mildly sedating and muscle-comforting effect for those who have insomnia to fall asleep more easily.

Chamomile is also beneficial for those who have diverticular disease, irritable bowel dilemmas, and several gastrointestinal problems since the herb has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic qualities. As it is used in a form of lotion or cream, chamomile can soothe skin rashes, even eczema, minor burns, and sunburn. It is also applied to treat eye inflammation and infection.

The other uses of chamomile include healing the mouth sores and preventing the gum disease, and it greatly decreases menstrual cramps. With those multiple uses and capabilities of chamomile, it is no doubt then that most pharmaceutical companies and health food companies greatly accept and recommend chamomile for those who are affected by those mentioned complaints. As such, the herb’s products in the form of tincture, oil, lotion, dried herb or tea, cream, and capsule are widely manufactured and are made available in several outlets.

However, since chamomile is widely made available in so many forms, perhaps the most important thing to consider before taking it is to read the labels for the exact dosage. Many experts then recommend looking for pills and tinctures that are formulated with concentrated extracts of the herb that contain for at least 1 percent of apigenin, which is one of the herb’s most potent ingredients.

Melissa

Melissa. No, I don’t mean your neighbor. And it’s definitely not your mother’s friend’s cat’s vet either. By Melissa, I mean the plant. Melissa officinalis. Otherwise known as bee balm, common balm, or lemon balm.

Melissa officinalis belongs to the mint family, Lamiaceae. And being such, it is known for its refreshing quality like lemon or lemon grass. The name Melissa was actually taken from the Greek “melisso-phyllon” which literally means “bee-leaf.” It was so named because the plant is so rich in nectar, it is commonly planted to feed bees.

Melissa officinalis is a perennial herb that was originally cultivated in Southern Europe. Now, it is common in almost all parts of the world, including Central Europe, Western Asia, North Africa, Panama, and USA. Its leaves have a characteristic lemony scent that’s gentle and soothing. This is perfect since the plant seems to have the propensity of growing in laid-back areas near human habitation.

Nearing the end of summer, the plant produces tiny white flowers that are full of nectar, much to the happiness of bees who feed on it. When in full bloom, the plant becomes even more attractive so that once, because of its beauty, even the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne ordered that Melissa officinalis be planted in every monastery garden. The stems of Melissa officinalis wither and die at the start of the winter season but with the coming of spring, they spring back to life.

Health Benefits

The Melissa officinalis was formerly used for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Traditional medicine has deemed it an all-around plant used to treat anything from gas to sleeping difficulties and even heart problems. Herbalists also applied Melissa balm topically to the temples for insomnia and nerve pain.

Throughout history, Melissa officinalis was used in many cultures for several different reasons. In the 4th century, the plant was introduced to Britain where it has been used chiefly to pacify a disordered nervous system. The London Dispensary (1969) says: “An essence of Balm, given in Canary wine, every morning will renew youth, strengthen the brain, relieve languishing nature and prevent baldness.” Additionally, John Evelyn wrote: “Balm is sovereign for the brain, strengthening the memory and powerfully chasing away melancholy.”

The English were so convinced of the plant’s rejuvenating qualities that they called it the “elixir of life” and used it as an important ingredient in wine-making. Many cultures, besides the English, were enamored by the plant’s many good qualities. Melissa officinalis was known to help clear the head, increase understanding, and sharpen the memory. In fact, the famed Carmelite water that is used to treat nervous headache and neuralgic affectations is actually a spirit of Melissa, combined with lemon-peel, nutmeg, and angelica root.

History has recorded the many virtues of Melissa officinalis. Both Pliny and Dioscorides who are among the wisest of Greeks, believed that it was useful for counteracting the venom from the bites of snakes and scorpions. Today, modern science is continuing to explore the many of benefits of this plant.

Many clinical trials led to the discovery of active constituents present in the plant that makes it so effective as an all-around cure. Terpenes, part of the pleasant-smelling volatile oil from Melissa, are thought to produce this herb’s relaxing and gas-relieving carminative effects. The plant is also found to be rich in flavonoids, phenolic acids, and other compounds which are responsible for its anti-herpes and thyroid-regulating actions.

Next Page »