E section
Echinacea, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L., E. angustifolia...)
Echinacea, purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea L., E. angustifolia et. al.
Compositae
(Click here to discover how to make an Echinacea tincture)
More detail in Physician's Laptop.
I prefer this herb for treating acute infections over golden seal.)
USES: See Echinacea varieties harvested and processed in the video: Natural Health with Medicinal Herbs...Medicine: Fighting and primarily preventing acute infections such as colds and flu. Also see: PLR.
Enhances immunity in several ways. Response follows bell curve, steep initial response, improving immune response up to 32%. Then response peaks...and after three or four days tapers off. Therefore used for acute instead of chronic conditions.
Safety: The juice of E. purpurea is well tolerated and appropriate for long term oral use according according to Parnham*. the reviewer detected no safety concerns for continued use up to 12 weeks. There were, "no adverse reactions other than aversion to the taste." Test showed improvement in individuals with slight to moderate depression of immunity. Schoneberger ** found that echinacea lozenges had no significant effect on marathon runners.* Parnham MJ 1996, Benefit risk assessment of the squeezed sap of the purple coneflower for long term oral immunostimulation. Phytomedicine Vol 3, No 1 95-102.
**Schoneberger, 1992, Influence of immune stimulating effects of pressed juice of E. Purpurea on the course and severity of colds. Forum Immunologic, Vol. 8, 1-8.
-Used internally for skin diseases, fungal infections both candida and listeria, slow healing wounds, boils, gangrene, upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, externally for acne and psoriasis (not proven by this sufferer).
NOTES: I have used alcohol tincture of E. purpurea as a gargle for mouth and tongue ulcers. Analgesic pain killer and hastens healing. I have used a single dose of the alcohol floral extraction to prevent gastroenteritis.
I had a deep staphylococcus infection (cellulitis) imbedded in my buttock. My physician suggested that I have it cut out before it broke out to in infect other parts of my body. I begged to try the Echinacea floral extraction (see Herbal Preparations and Nutritional Therapies video). The large cyst like infection disappeared in three days and has not returned. I continued the therapy for a total of six days (single dose 3X per day).
Chemistry: cichoric acid, akylamides, polysaccarides (inulin). Cichoric acid and akylamides are antimicrobial and prolong protective effects after reflex action of polysaccharides wears off. Chemistry exhibits activity similar to steroids and interferon. Also contains: apigenin; arabinogalactan (rt.); various caffeoyl compounds (see Duke's Database from CRC Press), echinacin, echinacoside, echinacein, echinolone; germacrene; various dicaffeoylquinic acids; isobutylamides; chlorogenic acid; germacrene; humulene; limonene; myrcene; quercitrin (leaf); flavanoids high in leaves; alpha pinene; beta-pinene; palmitic-acid; kaempferol, rutin; rutoside; polysaccharide in root: rhamnoarabinogalactan (2)
Wildlife/Veterinarian: Used in all my pigeon racing
formulas. May help pets who have colds, glycerin is more palatable to them than
alcohol extraction.
REFERENCES:
Bauer, Der Einsatz der HPLC bei der Standardisierrung von Echinacea Drogen Arch Pharm 322, 324 1988.
Hobbs: The Echinacea Handbook, Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland OR 1989.
MEUNINCK, Herbal Preparations and Nutritional therapies, one hour video, 1999. Media methods.
Meuninck et al.: Natural Health with Medicinal Herbs and Healing Foods, one hour video Media Methods 1982.
Mose : Effect of echinacin on phagocytosis and natural killer cells. Med Welt 34 1463-k67 1983.
Murray, Healing Power of Herbs pp103-107 Prima 1995.
Wagner et al.: Immunostimulating polysaccharides (heteroglycans of higher plants. Arzneimittel Forsch 35 1069-1075, 1985.
Mentha longifolia L.
Lamiaceae
Food: Leaves used as a culinary herb, try it in soups. Important ingredient in Southeast Asian cuisine and Indian chutneys. Flowers and leaves may be candied or added to syrup.
Medicine: Tea of plant is a carminative, used to treat flatulence, to treat pain (analgesic) and as a stimulant. Used to treat headache and other pain. See other mints for similar uses.
Whole aerial parts of plant may be tied in panty hose or the like and used in a bath, analgesic.
Chemistry: Numerous volatile oils to include: D-carvone, limonene, cineole, piperitone, emnthone, caryophyllene, germacren. Also, flavonoids; quercitirn, hesperidin, diosmin.
English Ivy, Tue Ivy, Woodbind
Hedera erecta L.
Araliaceae
Medicine: Leaves and berries are used. Antibacterial, bitter aromatic herb used to reduce fever (febrifuge), anti-spasmodic, expectorant. Used externally to treat joint pain, dermatitis, warts, burns, impetigo, cellulitis and scabies. The drug is approved by Commission E for treating coughs and bronchitis. Used internally to treat gout (unproven), and other unproven uses include: gallbladder, liver, spleen disorders.
Chemistry: Triterpene saponins; alkaloid: emetine; flavonoid rutin; volatile oils; polyynes: falcarinol and phytosterols.
Professionally prepared drug may be obtained through your holistic health care professional and at many health food stores.
Sambucus nigra L., S. canadensis L.
Caprifoliaceae
USES: (Photo, more) also (Recipe)
Food: Flowers may be batter dipped and frittered, or sprinkled over salads, infuse into tea. Fruit can be dried and used as sprinkle on pancakes, salads, meat dishes etc. Fruit may also be tinctured for colds and flu prevention...Use alcohol 190 proof or glycerin full strength with fresh berry; 1:1 wt. to volume. Keep in refrigerator; use teaspoon full for cold flu prevention. This makes a pleasant elixir. Add honey until alcohol tincture is thick enough to coat and forma film on a tablespoon.
NOTES: Elderberries (fruit) may be dried in a food dryer, then refrigerated and used in cooking throughout the cold months for disease prevention. They contain rutin and anthocyanins. Dried berries can be cooked in stir fry, stirred into hot rice, mixed into pancake batter. I like them cooked in 12 and 20 grain cereals.
Medicine: Bioflavonoid rich, anti-inflammatory, flowers and fruit best used, avoid leaves and bark (cyanide like compounds). Flowers reported to lower fever, soothing to irritations, reduces inflammation, alterative, diuretic. Use flowers and fruit as food or tea for influenza, flu, colds excess mucus, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, improved heart function, fevers, hay fever, allergies, sinusitis. Flowers can be infused in water and rubbed on skin to soothe and soften irritations. Moore claims elderberry flower tincture of the flowers is alterative, diaphoretic, stimulating the body's defense systems. Elderberry flower tinctures may be more effective and more tasteful when combined with mints.
Traditionally used to increase sweating, anti-inflammatory, diuretic.
Flowers best for upper respiratory problems.
Berries diuretic detoxifying...distilled elder flower extract (water) softens and tones skin...
Chemistry: Rutin high in immature flowers. Flowers also contain phenolic acids, triterpenes, mucilage, tannins, sterols. Campesterol in whole plant, seeds high in linoleic and linolenic acid, phenylalanine. (2) Berries high in anthocyanins, flavonoids and vitamin C and vitamin A.
Warning: Leaves, bark, root, and unripe berries may cause cyanide poisoning.
Epazote, Wormseed
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Chenopodiaceae
Notes: I grow this wild herb in my garden in Michigan and shelter it in my basement through the winter. It reduces flatulence in bean dishes and adds a distinctive taste and aromatic odor to beans. When making bean soup with Epazote be certain to use lime juice and mint leaves. It's a primal Native American thing. If you try it be careful. It is toxic. Use very small amounts (one leaf).
Uses:
Food: (See warning!) Cooked with bean dishes, corn and fish preparations. Start with only one leaf to a quart pan of beans or saute fish in chopped leaf and garlic. Add a leaf to corn dish like you would add a bay leaf to stew.
Medicine: Warming, increases perspiration. Leaf tea for vermifuge, decoction in bath to reduce fever. Salted leaves have been used to induce abortions. Tea to reduce stomach complaints after a meal. Antispasmodic. Vermifuge and anti-helmenthic: may kill roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms. Used to treat amebic dysentery. Also, used in Mexico to treat asthma and excessive mucus due to parasite and or infection.
Chemistry: Oil of plant is fragrance in perfumes, soaps, oils, detergents, creams according to Duke in his Handbook of Medicinal Herbs...Oil: ascaridole a unsaturated terpene peroxide.. Also, saponins, d-camphore, ureases, terpinene, geraniol, l-limonene, myrcene, p-cymene.
Wildlife/Veterinarian: Oil and tinctured leaf (in alcohol) has been used on pets as a vermifuge (external use only). Leaves have been fed to farm animals to rid them of worms and parasites. Used to repel mosquitoes and oil or decoction in humus or fertilizer to inhibit insect larvae growth.
Warning: Not to me used by pregnant women. Use small amounts only. Excessive use can lead to dizziness, convulsions, collapse, vomiting and death. In the World Health Organization Chronicle is was suggested of 20 grams expels parasites and has little side effects. Definitely more information is needed. Consult with Native Americans and Hispanics who use the plant. Other sources such as Duke and Lewis and Elvin Lewis (see pp.115 reference (6) suggest that toxic dose is near therapeutic dose.
Ephedra, Ma Huang, Joint Fir and Mormon Tea
Ephedra sinica, E. trifurca
Ephedraceae
Morman Tea, Joint Fir and Ephedra, Ma Huang (Ephedra viridis Coville and E. sinica)
Description: There are several Joint Fir species, Ephedra viridis looks like it has lost all its leaves. It is a yellow-green plant, many jointed and twiggy, one to four feet tall, with small leaf scales, and double seeded cones in the Fall of the year.
Location: Found on dry rocky soil or sand in dry desert like areas of the United States: Utah, Arizona, western New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, California, Oregon.
Food: Seeds were roasted and then infused into tea. Roasted and ground seeds were mixed with corn or wheat flour to make hot mush.
Traditional Uses: Ephedra viridis, Mormon Tea, was used in infusion to as a tonic, laxative, to treat anemia, to treat backache, to stem diarrhea, for colds, to treat ulcers, and as therapy for the kidneys and bladder. The decoction or infusion is considered an cleansing tonic (blood purifier). Dried and powdered stems used externally to treat wounds and sores. Powder was also moistened and applied to burns. In women’s health it was used by First People to stimulate delayed mentrual flow (dysmenorrhea). Seeds were roasted before brewing into tea.
Modern Uses: The Chinese species E. sinica is commonly used today. In China the dried jointed stems are powdered and used to treat coughs and bronchitis, bronchial asthma, congestion, hay fever and obesity (as a stimulant). Also used as an appetite suppressant and basal metabolism stimulant. The drug is (was) in many appetite suppressants and if abused, may be harmful to your health (see caution).
American ephedra is available as a tea or in capsules over-the-counter.
Chemistry: Alkaloids: ephedrine, psuedoephedrine, tannins
CAUTION: Ephedra sinica, as a cardiovascular stimulant and central nervous system stimulant this ephedra may be dangerous to people with elevated blood pressure, heart disease, and/or tachycardia. It is Federally regulated and is not to be used during pregnancy or by nursing mothers. Numerous drug interactions, best avoided. The import and use of this drug is restricted in several countries. Deaths have been associated with the abuse of this drug (100mg may be lethal). Currently, the American Medical Association and a number of consumer groups are trying to get ephedra banned on the suspicion it may cause heart attacks and strokes when used as a weight loss aid.
Notes: I have enjoyed the twig tea while filming wild plants in the Four Corners area around Mesa Verde.
Chenopodium album L.
edible quinoa seeds
C. quinoa
Notes: I grow all of these Goosefoot family herbs in my garden. This family has many edible plants including: Chenopodium quinoa an edible primal grain that you can buy in health food stores and 7th Day Adventist markets. One of my favorites is Lamb Quarters a common garden weed that has edible leaves. Lambs quarters' tea was used for stomach ache, scurvy, diarrhea. Also poultice over burns.
Uses:
Food: Epazote may be used very carefully as a condiment on beans, soups and other dishes. Just a sprinkle like pepper. Relieves flatulence. Flavors corn and fish dishes, Mexican foods. Quinoa may be added to pancakes and waffles, bread, pizza dough. Also great as a cooked cereal, and is best when part of a multi whole grain cereal. Cook it like rice. Lamb's quarters leaves may be added to salads, stir fry, steamed in wontons with quinoa, carrots, burdock root first saute in an Oriental flavor principle: two T soy sauces, three T of chopped ginger, T sesame, two T lemon juice, one T rice wine vinegar, clove chopped garlic, 1/4 cup of water. Stew herbs and roots in sauce, strain, stuff in wontons and steam. Roll wontons in perilla, flax or quinoa seeds before steaming.
Medicinal: Aerial parts (epazote) flower tops and leaves used as anthelminthic internally for round worms, hookworms, tapeworms, dysentery, asthma (antispasmodic effect), excessive mucus. Reduces flatulence when cooked with beans. Digestive remedy to quell stomach pains, gas, colic. Antispasmodic. Kills intestinal parasites. Increases perspiration, relaxes spasms, expectorant, anti-fungal, insecticidal. Externally for athletes foot and bites and stings. Used externally by Native Americans as a poultice over bites, snake bites, stings. Whole plant for wound healing. Juice expelled from whole plant used as a wash on hemorrhoids.
Chemistry: Epazote: volatile oil ascaridol (worm expellent), geraniol, methyl salicylate, triterpenoid saponins
Side effects: Many...If pregnant avoid use. Toxic in overdose. Use illegal in some countries in any form.
Overdose or allergic reaction may cause dizziness, convulsions, vomiting and death.
Use under professional supervision.
Amount: Avoid use, or use at your own risk. I have used the dried leaf like pepper the dried herb (a single leaf) on bean soup and corn soup.
Veterinarian/Wildlife: Used as a vermifuge on animals. Put this in your dog's doghouse, or in his/her bedding. Anti-helminthic (anti-worms). Fumigant against mosquitoes and soil based larvae inhibitor used on lawns.
Eucalyptus gumifera; E. polybractea, E. raidata var. australiana, E. smithii, E. macrorhyncha
Myrtaceae
Medicine: Bark and leaf aromatic and astringent. Bark and leaf decoctions, infusions used to treat dermatitis, sores, soften skin, treat dysentery, bladder inflammation. Steamed leaves or oil used to treat respiratory stress of colds, bronchitis, asthma, laryngitis, congestion. Used in infusion as a gargle for throat infections. Do not swallow the water and make certain the concentration is very dilute as not to harm the mouth mucosa. Wash and bath in the decoction may be anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial . Externally used like tea tree oil to treat athlete's foot and other fungal infections to treat acne. Also, used in aromatherapy (leaves as a sachet).
Steam bath or bath therapy: Place leaves in a clean pair of panty hose, tie off and put under hot bath water. Or soak leaves and throw them on hot rocks in Native American steam bath.
Chemistry: Many volatile oils to include: cineole, eucalyptol, citronellal, piperitone, pinene. Oleoresins include: kino, tannins
Veterinarian/Wildlife: Mild insecticide in decoction or hot infusion.
Evening Primrose
Oenothera biennis L.
Onagraceae
Uses: (Photo, uses)
Notes: My wife takes evening primrose oil for treating PMS. She feels it helps.
Food: The root is edible (biennial plant: first year root best). New leaves of first or second year edible in salads, stir fry. Seeds can be poured out of seed capsule (looks like small dried okra pod). Immature seed capsules may be cooked like okra, but do not taste like okra.
Medicine: The essential fatty acids and amino acids in the seeds are reportedly good for treating depression and psoriasis. I have psoriasis and have found this oil and borage oil expensive and ineffective ways to treat this auto-immune disease. I have more success at less cost using fish oil capsules: Max EPA and DHA, 1000mg tablets up to 12 per day, tapering down after 2 weeks to six per day and eventually three per day. This is not a cure but coupled with sun therapy and seawater bathing greatly clears my skin. Be certain to keep the skin moist with moisturizers.
Chemistry: Leaf: coumarins, neochlorogenic acid, ellagic-acid, digallic-acid, kaempferol, quercitin, oenotherin. seed: excellent amino acid profile, phytosterols, significant quantities of alpha-linoleic-acid and linoleic, beta-linoleic-acid and gamma-linolenic-acid. Good quantities of zinc. (2)
REFERENCES:
74 references on pages 518-20 in Michael Murray's Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplement. Prima 1996.
Meuninck, J., et al. Natural Health with Medicinal Herbs and Healing Foods, one hour video see reference section.Meuninck, Corson, Behnke Strasser, Holt. Diet for Natural Health, one hour video and computer disk see reference section.
Euphrasia officinalis L.
Scrophulariaceae
Medicine: A astringent, bitter herb used in folk medicine as eye bath or wash for treating conjunctivitis, eye fatigue, styes, weeping eczema of eyes. Internally for colds, coughs. Uses unproven. CAUTION: Sterile washes may be hard to achieve, making the treatment for an eye infection as bad as the disease. Flavonoid content may make this tea useful in treating allergies (unproven).
Chemistry: tannins, lignins and flavonoids: luteolin, apigenin
Preparation: Tea is made from the whole plant gathered when in flower. It is then dried, cut and sifted. Add a heaping teaspoon to a cup of boiling water (just off boil). Eyewashes are made from a water decoction of the herb.