Hawthorn
(Crataegus oxyacantha (L.))
Heroin, Opium,
Papaver sominifera
HIBISCUS, HOLLYHOCKS,
ROSE OF SHARON (Alcea rosea)
Hogweed,
Heracleum sphondylium
Hops (Humulus lupulus L.)
Horehound, (Marrubium
vulgare (Tourn.) L.) Black horehound
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana
(Gaertn.) May and Scherb)
Horsetail
(Equisetum arvense L. and other species)
Hawthorn
Crataegus oxyacantha L.
(Over 1000 species)
Rosaceae
Note: My brother had a heart attack about ten years ago. He has recovered. On his farm there grows about a dozen hawthorn trees that have the biggest, sweetest fruit I have ever tasted. In the Spring, we cut off a few dozen clusters of flower buds and emerging new growth leaves to make tea. The hot water extracts the bitter bioflavonoids that are hypotensive and anti-angina.
Uses:
Food: We eat the fruit and flowers, in salads, stews, tea, or munch them off the tree in the appropriate season.
Medicine: Sour, sweet flavor. Used to treat, angina, cardiac arrhythmia, heart disease, high blood pressure and intermittent claudication. The latter is leg pain caused by partially occluded coronary arteries. Circulatory stimulants and hypotensives may help this condition. Some possibilities are hawthorn, garlic, ginger, ginkgo biloba extract and cayenne. Dried hawthorn berries are used in China with infants with indigestion from improper nursing technique. In Europe and China, hawthorn has long been used to treat heart disease. The active phytochemistry are bioflavonoids. The bioflavonoids improve peripheral circulation to the heart, extremities and the brain. Improves coronary blood flow and is hypotensive. Uterine stimulate, may induce menstruation, contraindicated for pregnant women. Eat the fruits raw for circulatory stimulation and simmer the new leaves and flower buds for treating a heart condition. In China, the dried fruits are decocted and used for treating irritable bowel and gall bladder problems. Crataegalic acid increases digestive enzyme secretions improving digestion. Bacterialstatic to shingella species.
Commission E approved for
Chemistry: of C. cuneata, pinnatifida: amygdalin, ursolic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercitin, Vitamin C .
HIBISCUS, HOLLYHOCKS, ROSE OF SHARON
Hollyhock=Alcea rosea
Malvaceae
USES: (photo, more)
Food: flowers of hollyhock preferred by author, also flowers of Rose of Sharon infused in water, honey, syrup. Also, may be dried and stored and used as winter tea. Fresh open flowers may be stir fried; tear petals into salads.
Leaves and shoots edible, flower edible, Unripe seed pods are edible.
Put flower petals in salads, stir fry, saute shoots and pods in omelet.
Chemistry: mucilage (polysaccharide)
Medicine: Mild immune system stimulation. Mucilaginous property in flowers used to help fevers, may relieve dysentery and diarrhea. Mildly diuretic, having a laxative effect. Also used internally as food or water infusion (tea) for cystitis, gastritis and coughs, mucilage in flower good expectorant; tea of flower also used as a gargle for sore throat. Aromatic, stimulating warming, relaxant to digestive system. Considered by some an aphrodisiac.
Chemistry: Mucilage, seed approximately 16% protein.
Notes: Hibiscus abelmoschus or better, Abelmoschus moschatus also look for Abelmoschus esculentus (Malva moschada, musk mallow) to order these plants go to www.herbs.com .
Heracleum sphondylium
Umbelliferae
Range: Mediterranean and northwestern Asia.
Food: Edible young shouts, cook like asparagus, similar taste; but many members of this family are toxic, forage carefully. Also see, hemlock, angelica).
Medicine: Mentioned here because of its photo sensitizing effect. Like umbelliferes it is conceivable a photo sensitized person with psoriasis could obtain therapy by exposing himself to sun after taking the drug. This practice should be administered and overseen by a skilled, profession holistic health care practitioner.
Traditionally used to treat headaches, memory loss, depression, anxiety, asthma. May lower blood pressure.
Chemistry: furanocoumarin bergapten
Humulus lupulus L.
Moraceae/Cannabaceae
Uses: (Photo, more)
Food: Female cone like flowers are used in the production of beer. Rediscovered in America as we are enjoying hoppier micro brewery beer that makes us happier. Also, used as a sedative tea. Often flowers are placed in pillows to improve sleep. Try it in your hot tub, gentle emollient.
Caution: contact with pollen has caused allergic reactions.
Medicine: Emollient, sedative, bitters. Some research suggests that tea may impart estrogenic effect, subsequent research has not shown this effect.
Commission E approved for nervousness and insomnia (sleep aid).
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: Volatile Oil: Humulene (bitter taste), beta-caryophyllene, farnesene, lupulone and myrcene. Volatile alcohol may account for sedative effect.
Notes: According to some sources smoking hops like marijuana may provide a mild sedative effect. the two species are related.
Horehound, white and black horehound
Marrubium vulgare (Tourn.) L. and black horehound Ballota nigra
Labiatae
Uses:
Food: Used as a flavoring agent for candy, cough drops, liqueurs.
Medicine: Bitters, expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic (tea). Leaves and flowers used as bitter tonic to treat colds. Used to treat intestinal parasites.
Aerial parts of plant harvested while in flower for medicinal use. Aromatic, expectorant, bitter tonic, diuretic, diaphoretic. Traditionally, aerial parts (leaves, flowers) used to make tea for treating acute infections like colds, flu, bronchitis, diarrhea.. It is considered a vaso dilator. And marrubiin may prompt secretion of mucus (expectorant). In animal studies, M. vulgare had hypoglycemic effects (see Roman, et al. Hypoglycemic effect of plants used in Mexico as anti-diabetic. Archives Med. Res, 1992' 23(1) P.59.). Metabolites of marrubiin may induce bile secretion. Marrubinic acid is considered a choleretic and stimulates the release of gastric juices, aiding digestion and assimilation. Mild laxative effect. Tea used as holistic therapy to treat painful menstruation. For coughs and digestive complaints try with ginger root.
Black Horehound, the aerial parts when in flower are used as an antispasmodic, stimulant, or anti-emetic. Used to treat nausea and vomiting. May stimulate the liver to produce more bile. As an enema used to treat worms. The plant is odiferous, it stinks, not to be confused with Marrubium vulgare. Chemistry of this plant includes: volatile oil, ferulic and caffeic acid, tannins and the chemical marrubiin as in Marrubium vulgare.
Commission E approved for dyspepsia and as an appetite stimulant.
External use as a wash for ulcers, wounds, abrasions.
Caution: In rats at high dosed marrubiin has had antiarrhythmic effect.
Extractions: Traditionally 1:1 preparation of dried aerial parts with ethanol. Or 1 to 2 grams of dried aerial parts in infusion, filter and drink cool. Liquid extracts 1-4 ml three times per day and infusion 1 cup three times per day. Results vary.
Notes: Plant is hardy perennial and does well in temperate and Mediterranean climates.
Chemistry: Marrubiin a diterpene lactone: also premarrubiin (volatile oil) and mono and sesquiterpene lactones. Also, tannins, ursolic acid, beta sitosterol, marrubina, mucilage, chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid and flavonoids: apigenin, luteolin, vicinin II, chrysoeriol.(induces bile secretions) quercetin. Mucilage. In animal studies showed horehound extract to be hypoglycemic (antidiabetic).
Armoracia rusticana (Gaertn.) May and Scherb
Cruciferae/Brassicaceae
DEMONSTRATION: SALAD DRESSING: horseradish root, 1/3 cayenne pepper, tablespoon of Tahini, 1/2 cup of Marukan seasoned gourmet rice wine vinegar, 1/2 cup of onion juice, one cup celery juice, salt, pepper, tarragon, pinch of rosemary, pinch oregano and thyme, add half cup of water or 1/2 cup of olive oil (optional and not necessary).
Cooking: Young fresh leaves are excellent stir fry or salad green, sandwiches,
Try cooking fish with root grated with apple. Blend root with vinegar and cream (or sour cream and no vinegar) as sauce or condiment for beef, eggs, pork, lamb... (see Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses, Deni Bown, p. 242). Horseradish is underused in American cuisine. Try it grated in sandwiches (judiciously). Add to all cooked, boiled, steamed fish. Great with cooked vegetables: potatoes, beets, celery, apples, beans, eggs. Stir it into yogurt and use this on potatoes instead of sour cream.
Storage: always wrap in damp towel then cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate, will keep for several days. Horseradish in vinegar keeps for several months, but not longer than a half year.
Medicine: Warming. Root tea is an expectorant. Digestive and appetite stimulate (anorexia). Small amount in sauces may relieve sinus congestion. Antibiotic, anti-fungal. circulatory stimulant. Lowers fever by increasing perspiration. Pickled chopped root may be eaten judiciously to open sinuses (sinusitis). Used to treat gout, arthritis, sciatica, urinary infections. Used externally as a poultice over wounds, arthritis. Warming quality helps prevent and alleviate colds, flu. traditional remedy for gout and scurvy. Large amounts are irritating and purgative (cathartic
Commission E approved to treat bronchitis, coughs, urinary tract infections.
WARNING: Avoid if have stomach problems, ulcers, may cause vomiting, and allergic reactions internally and externally, as poultice may burn skin.
Natural Health: Muster oil glycosides for mustard plasters rubefacient and vesicant (blister forming) increased circulation to inflamed joints.. Acrid lungs, large intestine, tonifies lungs and liver, in excess damaging to liver.
Chemistry: Vitamin C, glucosilinate sinigrin that reduces upon exposure to air to isothiocyanate. Asparagine.
Wildlife/Veternarian: May repel scorpions.
Horsetail, Equisteum
Equisetum arvense L. and other species
Equisetaceae
Uses: (Photo, more)
Food: Not edible.
Medicine: Mexican Americans use dried whole aerial plant parts of horsetail in infusion or decoction to treat painful urination. This therapy is not supported by scientific evidence. Equisetonin and bioflavonoids in the plant may account for its diuretic effect.
Commission E approved: For wounds, burns and internally for urinary tract infections and kidney and bladder stones.
Chemistry: Bioflavonoids: (Flavone glycosides: equisetrin, galuteolin, isoquercitrin). Also, saponins, silica and silicic acids, nicotine, beta sitosterol, isofucosterol, cholesterol, campestrol and the cytokinin: isopentenyladenosine.
Warning: Overdose of the herb may be toxic. Use only under the supervision of a skilled holistic health care professional.
Wildlife/Veterinarian: Ingestion of horsetail by grazing animals has caused weight loss, weakness, ataxia, fever and other symptoms.
HYSSOP (Anise Hyssop, Giant hyssop)
Agastache foeniculum, also A. anethiodora
Labiatae/Lamaceae
USES: (Photo, more)
Food: Stuff Hyssop flowers, Asiago cheese and nuts with shellfish and salal berries in frittered pumpkin blossoms. Roll blossom in low fat buttermilk, dredge through flour, saute in olive oil. One of first treats in my garden in early spring, I pick and put aromatic leaves in tea, salads, or imbibe off the plant. The flower and young leaves are great in a cold infusion of water mixed with other mints...such as mountain mint, spearmint, thyme and balm Melissa. Stuff one gallon cold tea jar with mints, add three 1/4" slices of lemon and infuse overnight in refrigerator. This is a fine pick me up and mental stimulant, it seems kicks up metabolism and may be a helpful weight loss aid. Anise hyssop florets (pull them off flower head) may be added to pizza's up to a quarter cup...I like them stewed in the sauce instead of anise seed. Try in spaghetti sauce, about an eighth of a cup to a quarter of a cup... Sprinkle on garden salads...Also try the florets in fish recipes and by contrast cookie dough. I also like them in sour cream, custards, syrups and yogurt. SEE GREAT RECIPES IN EDIBLE FLOWER VIDEO WHEN STUFFED WITH SHELLFISH, SHARP CHEESES, HERBS IN SQUASH BLOSSOM ROLLED IN EGG WHITE AND SAUTE.
Medicine: Tea used as a sweetener. Cooling, drying, treat illnesses due to dampness and heat, diarrhea, abdominal pains. May be effective against cold sores and genital herpes. Hyssop tea may be dabbed over the sore or hold a chewed leaf over the spot. Treat fevers as a cold infusion to disperse heat (flowers and leaves). Improves appetite. ...May relieve and prevent nausea and vomiting.
Feverfew flowers may provide a similar effect. (3) (7)
Chemistry: volatile oils: anethole, p-methoxycinnamaldehyde, methyl chavicol, anisaldehyde
Wildlife/Veterinarian: Nectar rich Anise hyssop is greatly appreciated by butterflies, bees and the occasional hummingbird.