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.

Rhubarb Root Herb

The rhubarb root herb comes from the plant, Rheum palmatum L. of the plant family, Polygonaceae. Commonly known as Turkish rhubarb, this plant has been used in many early civilizations as a tonic to improve digestion and loss of appetite.

Health Benefits

Tea made from the rhubarb root herb is bitter in taste but rich in tannins. The substance tannin can increase the flow of saliva and gastric secretions. Also, tannin may also be used as an astringent or stomachic at a low dosage to stop diarrhea.

Formerly, the rhubarb root herb was used in many army camps as an important drug to stop the deadly scourge of dysentery in its tracks. The rhubarb root herb contains many anthraquinones. If taken at a higher dosage, the herb functions as a safe and effective laxative. Thus, the rhubarb root herb is a fine example of an herb that can be used for opposite purposes, depending on the dosage.

The Pharmocopoeia in Germany has accepted rhubarb root herb in its lists of herbs beneficial for the digestive and excretory systems. German physicians recommend rhubarb root herb to help the patient overcome constipation and other disorders in which defecation with a soft stool is desired, e.g. anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and after rectal operations. For stomach and bowel catarrh, a small dose of the herb is also suggested.

In today’s herbal supplement industry, rhubarb root herb is mostly marketed as a laxative. It is a component in many choleretic drugs, which work by increasing the flow of bile into the intestines. For this reason, rhubarb root herb is also recommended in cases of liver and biliary disorders that often cause constipation.

The rhubarb root herb is said to contain many active glycosides. When taken internally these glycosides are hydrolyzed in the gut into their aglycones at least in part by the action of bacterial enzymes. These aglycones in turn influence the water and electrolyte transport in the colon, thus creating a laxative action.

In China, rhubarb root herb is used to treat toothaches. It is also said to improve bleeding ulcers up to 90% within a few days. This therapeutic claim is based on a study with 312 people with ulcers and treated using rhubarb root herb.

Active Constituents

Rhubarb root herb contains: 3-12% anthraquinones including 60-80% chysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, physcionin, citreorosein, chrysophanol 1, emodin1, aloe-emodin, 8-glucoside; 10-25% dianthraquinones; sennosides A, B, C, D, E, and F; naphtalins; 1% stilbenes; 5-10% tannins; and 2-3% flavonoids including rutin and several polyphenols.