Archives for "August, 2009"

Posted by Dr.aks on 31st August 2009

Herbal medicines and colitis : What is the truth

There is a wide range of plants that have a direct impact on colitis and other conditions of the colon. With astringents such as Bayberry (Myrica cerifera), wound healing demulcents like Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale) or Plantain (Plantago major) and the colic relieving properties of the anti-spasmodic Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) much can be done [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 30th August 2009

Coltsfoot Herbal medicine

Tussilago farfara
Compositae
Citations
Names : Coughwort, Horsehoof, Foals Foot.
Habitat : A common wild plant in Britain and Europe, growing in damp places.
Collection : The flowers should be gathered before they have fully bloomed (end of February to April) and dried carefully in the shade. The leaves are best collected between May and June. They should be chopped [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 30th August 2009

Chickweed and its Herbal uses

Stellaria media
Caryophyllaceae
Citations
Habitat : A common weed, it grows everywhere in moist places and frequently in gardens.
Collection : This common weed can be collected in spring, but may be found throughout the year.
Part Used : Dried aerial parts.
Constituents : o Saponin glycosides
o Coumarins and hydroxycoumarins
o Flavonoids
o Carboxylic acids
o Triterpenoids
o Vitamin C, about l50-350mg per l00g.
Actions : Anti-rheumatic, [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 29th August 2009

Boneset Herbal Medicine

Eupatorium perfoliatum
Compositae
Citations
Names : Feverwort
Habitat : N. America
Collection : Boneset should be collected as soon as the flowers open in August or September.
Part Used : Dried aerial parts
Constituents : o Sesquiterpene lactones ; eupafolin, euperfolitin, eufoliatin, eufoliatorin,
euperfolide, eucannabinolide and helenalin
o Immunostimulatory polysaccharides, mainly 4-0-methylglucuroxylans
o Flavonoids; quercitin, kaempferol, hyperoside, astragalin, rutin, eupatorin
& others
o Miscellaneous: diterpenes – dendroidinic [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 29th August 2009

Boldo : The herbal Medicine

Peumus boldo
Monimiaceae
Citations
Names : Boldu boldus Lyons, Boldea fragrans Gay.
Habitat : Indigenous to Chile, naturalized in mountainous parts of the Mediterranean
Collection : Gather the evergreen leaves at any time. Dry them carefully is shade not over 40 degrees C.
Part Used : Dried leaves.
Constituents : o Alkaloids, of the isoquinoline type, up to 0.75%, including boldine,
isocorydine, N-methyllaurotetanine, [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 27th August 2009

Bogbean as a herbal medicine

Menyanthes trifoliata
Menyanthaceae
Names : Buckbean, Marsh Trefoil.
Habitat : Marshy ground in Britain and Europe.
Collection : The leaves are best collected between May and July. The may be dried in the sun or under moderate heat.
Part Used : Leaves.
Constituents : o Anthraquinone derivatives, including emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol and
rhein glycosides, frangula-emodin, rhamnicoside alaterin and physcion.
o Flavonoid glycosides.
Actions : [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 27th August 2009

Californian Poppy Herbal medicine

Eschscholzia californica
Papaveraceae
Habitat : California
Collection : The aerial parts are collected at the time of flowering which is between June and September. They should be dried in the shade.
Part Used : Dried aerial parts.
Constituents : Alkaloids similar to Opium Poppy; flavone glycosides.
Actions : Nervine, hypnotic, anti-spasmodic, anodyne.
Indications : Californian Poppy has the reputation of being a [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 25th August 2009

Balmony as a herbal medicine

Chelone glabra
Scrophulariaceae
Names : Bitter Herb, Snake Head, Turtle Head, or Turtle Broom.
Habitat : North America
Collection : The aerial parts are collected and dried during the flowering period between July and September.
Part Used : Dried aerial parts
Constituents : Very little work has been carried out on this plant. Resins and bitters only have been reported.
Actions : [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 24th August 2009

Cholecystitis and herbal science : Treatment guide

Cholecystitis
Chronic :A pathologic term for a thick walled, fibrotic, contracted gallbladder; clinically, it is used to describe chronic gallbladder disease characterized by symptoms that include recurrent biliary colic.
Acute : Acute inflammation of the gallbladder wall, usually as a response to cystic duct obstruction by a gallstone.
This condition is characterized by severe pain that becomes localized [...]

Posted by Dr.aks on 23rd August 2009

Calendula : Herbal uses

Calendula officinalis
Compositae
Citations
Names : Marigold, Marybud, Gold-bloom, Caltha officinalis.
Habitat : A common garden plant.
Collection : Either the whole flower tops or just the petals are collected between June and September. They should be dried with great care to ensure there is no discoloration.
Part Used : Petals, flowerheads.
Constituents : Triterpenes, pentacyclic alcohols such as faradol, brein, arnidiol, [...]