HERBAL INFORMATION
Herbs are Nature's gifts. Many prescription (or'Allopathic') medicines originated from Herbal sources. Aspirin, for example, and Vincristine (an anti-cancer drug) amongst others.
However, as the drugs were processed and synthesized, only certain potent elements were made use of, the remaining chemical properties of the plant ignored. This, while focussing on the main dynamic ingredients, and creating a 'magic bullet' of sorts, omitted balancing factors of the natural herb, and led to the very common appearance of side-effects.
Herbal medicines, if taken in the correct dosage and for the recommended amount of time, are usually well-tolerated by the patient. But please remember they are potent medicines, and should be treated with respect. There are cases of side-effects, and certain levels of toxicity in susceptible patients, and if the remedies are taken either indiscriminately, or for too long. In 'LINKS' we suggest a good website where you can find out information about any known problems with a listed herb, and any side effects, contra-indications, or warnings.
SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS.
Before taking any Herbal remedy, alternative or natural product, please make sure you are not allergic to any ingredient.
Consult a qualified Medical Herbalist if in any doubt about: self-medication/the use of herbs in pregnancy and breastfeeding/childrens' dosage/ combinations of herbal and prescription drugs. Be aware that a number of herbal medicines will react adversely with prescription drugs and anaesthetics. Consult your doctor and/or a qualified Herbalist in these cases. Some herbs will be appropriate for use as supportive treatment to your drug regime, but by no means all.
Just because herbs are 'natural' does not mean they are not potentially harmful if taken incorrectly, for inappropriate lengths of time, or indiscriminately. Choose wisely and research properly before taking any herbal treatment, or get expert advice. Herbs contain incredibly effective natural chemical compounds which need to be carefully respected.
Please do not discontinue the use of any prescription medication suddenly, without first asking your doctor, as to do so could be dangerous.
It's wise to discontinue any Herbal treatment (at least a week before) if you expect to go into hospital or receive general anaesthetic.
Do be careful when self-diagnosing! (One person's 'colic' could be another person's Acute Appendicitis!)
For guidance about Herbal medicines in general, and about their use and dosage, there are a number of well written books on the market, which give advice about which herbs are safe to use in pregnancy/breastfeeding/childrens' dosage/ all known contra-indications, and the safe and intelligent use of herbs. AMAZON usually has a good selection. Their web address is in 'LINKS'.
RECOMMENDED READING
Recommended books are: * THE NEW HOLISTIC HERBAL by David Hoffman, (Published by Element Books.) *MEDICAL HERBALISM, PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES, David Hoffman. *ADAPTOGENS: HERBS FOR STRENGTH, STAMINA, AND STRESS RELIEF, David Winston and Steven Maimes. *THE BOOK OF HERBAL WISDOM: USING PLANTS AS MEDICINE, Matthew Wood. *A-Z GUIDE OF DRUG-
HERB-VITAMIN INTERACTIONS, Alan R Gaby, Forrest Batz, and Rick Chester.
AT-A-GLANCE. SYMPTOM AND REMEDY LIST
ABSCESS: Echinacea/Mallow (as a poultice or dressing)
ACNE: Echinacea/Yellow Dock/Burdock Root.
ANXIETY: Californian Poppy/Valerian/Camomile/St John's Wort/Lemon Balm/Hops/Lime flowers/Wood Betony.
ARTHRITIS: Black Cohosh/Celery seed/Prickly Ash/White Willow/Yarrow/Wild Yam/Sarsaparilla Root.
BLOOD PRESSURE (high): Lemon Balm/Hawthorn Berries/Yarrow/Lime flowers.
BRONCHITIS: Angelica/Echinacea/Thyme/WhiteHorehound/Violetleaves/Mallow/Catnip.
BURNS: Marigold/St John's Wort.
CATARRH: Daisy/Echinacea/Golden Rod/Violet leaves/Mallow/Camomile/Rose Hip.
CHILBLAINS: Prickly Ash.
CIRCULATION: Prickly Ash.
COLDS AND FLU: Echinacea/Golden Rod/Yarrow/Catnip/Angelica/Rose Hip.
COLIC: Angelica/Fennel/Valerian/Wild Yam/Camomile/Californian Poppy/Catnip.
CONSTIPATION: Yellow Dock.
COUGHS: Angelica/Ground Ivy/Red Clover/Echinacea/White Horehound/Black Horehound/Violet leaves.
CYSTITIS: Couchgrass/Echinacea/Cornsilk/Yarrow/Angelica/Burdock Root.
DEBILITY: Damiana/Wood Betony/Nettle/Rose hips/St John's Wort/Ginseng.
DEPRESSION: Oats/St John's Wort/Damiana/Lemon Balm.
DIVERTICULITIS: Wild Yam/Camomile.
ECZEMA: Yellow Dock/Nettle/Burdock Root/Red Clover/Violet leaves.
FEVER: Angelica/Catnip.
FLATULENCE: Fennel/Angelica/Camomile/Lemon Balm/Catnip.
FUNGAL INFECTIONS: Marigold.
GALL-BLADDER PROBLEMS: Milk Thistle/Marigold/Wild Yam.
GASTRITIS: Mallow/Camomile.
HEADACHE: Wood Betony/White Willow/Camomile.
INSOMNIA: Californian Poppy/Valerian/Hops/Lime flowers/St John's Wort/Wood Betony.
LARYNGITIS: Echinacea/Thyme/Mallow/Golden Rod.
LIVER TONIC: Milk Thistle/Burdock Root/Yellow Dock.
MEMORY AND MENTAL AGILITY: Ginkgo Biloba.
MENOPAUSE: St John's Wort (for sleep disturbance or depression)/Black Cohosh (contains phyto-oestrogens)/Damiana (loss of libido)/Red Clover/Beth Root.
[HEAVY BLEEDING DURING MENSTRUATION/PERIMENOPAUSE/MENOPAUSE: Nettle/Beth Root]
MENSTRUATION (Uncomfortable): Squaw Vine/St John's Wort/Valerian/White Willow.
MILK STIMULATION (Breast-feeding): Milk Thistle/Fennel.
NAUSEA: Black Horehound/Camomile.
NEURALGIA: Wood Betony/Black Cohosh/St John's Wort/White Willow/Valerian.
OVARIAN PAIN (At ovulation): Wild Yam/Valerian/Black Cohosh/St John's Wort.
PRE-MENSTRUAL SYMPTOMS: Celery seed (for bloating and water retention)/Lime flowers/St John's Wort/Valerian.
PREGNANCY: Squaw Vine (to tone womb in preparation for childbirth)/Black Horehound (nausea and morning sickness)/Rose Hip (Natural Vitamin C supplement.)
PSORIASIS: Red Clover/Sarsaparilla/Yellow Dock/Burdock Root.
PROSTATE PROBLEMS: Saw Palmetto/Cornsilk/Couchgrass/Damiana.
RHEUMATISM: Angelica/Black Cohosh/Celery Seed/Couchgrass/Prickly Ash/Wild Yam/St John's Wort/Yarrow.
SHINGLES: Echinacea/St John's Wort/Valerian/Wild Yam.
SINUSITIS: Golden Rod/Yarrow/Thyme/Echinacea.
SORE THROAT: Echinacea/Camomile.
STRESS: Valerian/Lemon Balm/Hops/Oats/Lime flowers/Damiana/Wood Betony/St John's Wort.
SUNBURN: St John's Wort/Marigold.
TENSION: Lemon Balm/Wood Betony/Californian Poppy/St John's Wort/Lime flowers/Camomile.
TINNITUS: Black Cohosh/Golden Rod (if caused by catarrh)/Ground Ivy.
TONSILLITIS: Echinacea/Thyme.
TRAVEL SICKNESS: Black Horehound.
ULCERS (Peptic): Mallow.
ULCERS (Skin): Marigold/Echinacea/Beth Root/Burdock Root.
WATER RETENTION: Celery seed/Cornsilk/Yarrow.
[There are a number of other herbs which also treat the conditions mentioned above. We have only included the remedies which are available on our list.]
Information contained on this website is for general information purposes only. ALL HEALTH PROBLEMS SHOULD BE REFERRED TO A QUALIFIED HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. Information about the uses of herbs are quoted from traditional sources, widely-available in many publications, and are not recommendations given by us, or claims made about our products. All ingredients in our products are exactly as stated both on this website, and on all labelling. Our products contain no banned, controlled, or restricted substances.
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