Bosch Mixer Authorized Dealer!
____________________

Bosch Mixers!

Health Appliances:

Z-Star Wheat Grass Juicer


Greenstar Vegetable Juicer

Champion Vegetable Juicer

Nutrimill Electric Grain Mill

Vitamix Blender

Bamix Hand Mixer

Excalibur Food Dehydrator

Spring Air, Air Purifier

Waterwise Distiller

Hundreds of
Health Appliances!

All parts of this page are ©2007 By Charles L. Church

Herbal Medicinal Properties Index

Siberian Ginseng: Eleutherococcus senticosus

David Hoffman, N.D.: Actions: Adaptogen, a circulatory stimulant, vasodilator. Indications: This herb may safely be used to increase stamina in the face of undue demands and stress. These may be physical or mental—they are one to the body. Thus it is used for debility, exhaustion and depression, except where these are due to a specific medical reason that calls for defined treatment. It has a growing reputation for increasing all kinds of body resistance. However, the claims may be over-enthusiastic. The claims for circulatory effects come from excellent Russian research which has not yet been verified in Britain. Combinations: It is best used by itself, or with herbs that are specifically indicated for a person. Preparation and dosage: This herb is usually available as a tablet or powder, the dosage of which should be from 0.2 to l gram three times a day over a period of time.

Editor: It is important to note that Siberian "ginseng" is not really a true Ginseng at all. Any true Ginseng starts with the Latin name "Panax". Siberian Ginseng has similar medicinal qualities, but among those that use it, it has nothing near the repute of any species of real Ginseng. So... be careful when you buy "Ginseng" preparations, as you will note that they almost always have Siberian "Ginseng" as the first (and most plentiful) ingredient, as it is VERY inexpensive compared to real Ginseng. Caveat Emptor.

Back to Catalog: Siberian Ginseng

Herbal Properties Index

American Ginseng: Panax quinquefolium  (It seems evident that Mrs. Grieve is treating of both Panax quinquifolium, (American Ginseng), and Panax Ginseng, (Chinese/Korean/Oriental Ginseng)

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Panax is not official in the British Pharmacopoeia, and it was dismissed from the United States Pharmacopceia at a late revision. It is cultivated almost entirely for export to China.

In China, both varieties are used particularly for dyspepsia, vomiting and nervous disorders. A decoction of 1/2 oz. of the root, boiled in tea or soup and taken every morning, is commonly held a remedy for consumption and other diseases.

In Western medicine, it is considered a mild stomachic tonic and stimulant, useful in loss of appetite and in digestive affections that arise from mental and nervous exhaustion.

A tincture has been prepared from the genuine Chinese or American root, dried and coarsely powdered, covered with five times its weight of alcohol and allowed to stand, well-stoppered, in a dark, cool place, being shaken twice a day. The tincture, poured off and filtered, has a clear, light-lemon colour, an odour like the root and a taste at first bitter, then dulcamarous and an acid reaction.

David Hoffman:  : Anti-depressive, increases resistance and improves both physical and mental performance. Indications: Ginseng has an ancient history and as such has accumulated much folklore about its actions and uses. Many of the claims that surround it are inflated but it is clear that this is a unique plant. It has the power to move a person to their physical peak, generally increasing vitality and physical performance. Specifically it will raise lowered blood pressure to a normal level. It affects depression, especially where this is due to debility and exhaustion. It can be used in general for exhaustion states and weakness. It has a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Occasionally the use of this herb may produce headaches.

Back to Catalog: American Ginseng   Korean Ginseng   Chinese Ginseng

Herbal Properties Index

Goat's Rue: Galega officinalis

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Diaphoretic, galactagogue. The herb is official in the National Formulary IV attached to the United States Pharmacopoeia; the dried flowering tops are made into a fluid extract with diluted alcohol.

In 1873 Gillet-Damitte, in a communication to the French Academy, stated that this plant when given to cows would increase the secretion of milk from 35 to 50 per cent, since which time, Cerisoli, Millbank and several French physicians have affirmed that Goat's Rue is a powerful galactagogue. The best preparation is stated to be an aqueous extract prepared from the fresh plant. This almost black extract has a pronounced odour and is recommended to be given in doses of from 8 to 15 grains, from three to five times a day.

Culpepper says: 'A bath made of it is very refreshing to wash the feet of persons tired with overwalking. In the northern countries they use this herb for making their cheeses instead of Rennet, whence it is called also "CheeseRennet"; the flowers contain an acidity, which may be got by distillation. This plant is seldom used in the shops.'

The root of an American species of Goat's Rue (Galega virginiana, Linn.) is said to be diaphoretic and powerfully anthelmintic. It is given in decoction.

Back to Catalog: Goat's Rue

Herbal Properties Index

Goldenrod: Solidago virgaurea

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Aromatic, stimulant, carminative. Golden Rod is an ingredient in the Swiss Vulnerary, faltrank. It is astringent and diuretic and efficacious for stone in the bladder. It is recorded that in 1788 a boy of ten, after taking the infusion for some months, passed quantities of gravel, fifteen large stones weighing up to 1 1/4 OZ., and fifty over the size of a pea. It allays sickness due to weak digestion.

In powder it is used for cicatrization of old ulcers. It has been recommended in many maladies, as it is a good diaphoretic in warm infusion, and is in this form also helpful in dysmenorrhoea and amenorrhoea. As a spray and given internally, it is of great value in diphtheria.

Back to Catalog: Goldenrod

Herbal Properties Index

Goldenseal: Hydrastis Canadensis

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---The American aborigines valued the root highly as a tonic, stomachic and application for sore eyes and general ulceration, as well as a yellow dye for their clothing and weapons.

It is official in most Pharmacopoeias, several of which refer to its yellowing the saliva when masticated.

The action is tonic, laxative, alterative and detergent. It is a valuable remedy in the disordered conditions of the digestion and has a special action on the mucous membrane, making it of value as a local remedyin various forms of catarrh. In chronic inflammation of the colon and rectum, injections of Hydrastine are often of great service, and it has been used in haemorrhoids with excellent results, the alkaloid Hydrastine having an astringent action. The powder has proved useful as a snuff for nasal catarrh.

It is employed in dyspepsia, gastric catarrh, loss of appetite and liver troubles. As a tonic, it is of extreme value in cases of habitual constipation, given as a powder, combined with any aromatic. It is an efficient remedy for sickness and vomiting.

Editor: It is also known in modern times mainly as an infection-fighting herb.

Back to Catalog: Goldenseal

Herbal Properties Index

Gota Kola: Centella Asiatica

Humbart Santillo, B.S., M.H.,: Gotu Kola has remarkable rejuvenating properties similar to those of Fo-ti and Ginseng. It has been used in India as a diuretic as well as a gblood purifier. It is valued for the treatment of depression, rheumatism, blood diseases and mental weaknesses. It neutralizes blood acids and will lower the temperature. It is known in India as a longevity herb. The usual dose is 3 ounces of the infusion three times daily.

Back to Catalog: Gota Kola

Herbal Properties Index

Grindelia: Grindelia camporum, Grindelia cuneifolia, Grindelia squarrosa

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Expectorant and sedative, with an action resembling atropine. It has been recommended in cystitis and catarrh of the bladder, but its principal use is in bronchial catarrh, especially when there is any asthmatic tendency. It relieves dyspnoea due to heart disease, has been successfully employed in whooping cough, and as a local application in rhus poisoning, burns, genito-urinary catarrh, etc. As its active principle is excreted from the kidneys, it sometimes produces signs of renal irritation; in chronic catarrh of the bladder it stimulates the mucous membrane.

Back to Catalog: Grindelia

Herbal Properties Index

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Cardiac, diuretic, astringent, tonic. Mainly used as a cardiac tonic in organic and functional heart troubles. Both flowers and berries are astringent and useful in decoction to cure sore throats. A useful diuretic in dropsy and kidney troubles.

Back to Catalog: Hawthorn

Herbal Properties Index

Hops: Humulus Lupulus

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Hops have tonic, nervine, diuretic and anodyne properties. Their volatile oil produces sedative and soporific effects, and the Lupamaric acid or bitter principle is stomachic and tonic. For this reason Hops improve the appetite and promote sleep.

The official preparations are an infusion and a tincture. The infusion is employed as a vehicle, especially for bitters and tonics: the tincture is stomachic and is used to improve the appetite and digestion. Both preparations have been considered to be sedative, were formerly much given in nervousness and hysteria and at bedtime to induce sleep; in cases of nervousness, delirium and inflammation being considered to produce a most soothing effect, frequently procuring for the patient sleep after long periods of sleeplessness in overwrought conditions of the brain.

The bitter principle in the Hop proves one of the most efficacious vegetable bitters obtainable. An infusion of 1/2 oz. Hops to 1 pint of water will be found the proper quantity for ordinary use. It has proved of great service also in heart disease, fits, neuralgia and nervous disorders, besides being a useful tonic in indigestion, jaundice, and stomach and liver affections generally. It gives prompt ease to an irritable bladder, and is said to be an excellent drink in cases of delirium tremens. Sherry in which some Hops have been steeped makes a capital stomachic cordial.

A pillow of warm Hops will often relieve toothache and earache and allay nervous irritation.

An infusion of the leaves, strobiles and stalks, as Hop Tea, taken by the wineglassful two or three times daily in the early spring, is good for sluggish livers. Hop Tea in the leaf, as frequently sold by grocers, consists of Kentish Hop leaves, dried, crushed under rollers and then mixed with ordinary Ceylon or Indian Tea. The infusion combines the refreshment of the one herb with the sleepinducing virtues of the other.

Hop juice cleanses the blood, and for calculus trouble nothing better can be found than the bitter principle of the Hop. A decoction of the root has been esteemed as of equal benefit with Sarsaparilla.

As an external remedy, an infusion of Hops is much in demand in combination with chamomile flowers or poppy heads as a fomentation for swelling of a painful nature, inflammation, neuralgic and rheumatic pains, bruises, boils and gatherings. It removes pain and allays inflammation in a very short time. The Hops may also be applied as a poultice.

The drug Lupulin is an aromatic bitter and is reputed to be midly sedative, inducing sleep without causing headache.

It is occasionally administered as a hypnotic, either in pills with alcohol, or enclosed in a cachet.

Preparations of Lupulin are not much used in this country, although official, but in the United States they are considered preferable for internal use.

Back to Catalog: Hops

Herbal Properties Index

Horsetail: Equisetum arvense, Equisetum hyemale, Equisetum maximum, Equisetum sylvaticum

Mrs. M. Grieve: ---Medicinal Action and Uses---Diuretic and astringent. Horsetail has been found beneficial in dropsy, gravel and kidney affections generally, and a drachm of the dried herb, powdered, taken three or four times a day, has proved very effectual in spitting of blood.

The ashes of the plant are considered very valuable in acidity of the stomach, dyspepsia, etc., administered in doses of 3 to 10 grains.

Besides being useful in kidney and bladder trouble, a strong decoction acts as an emmenagogue; being cooling and astringent, it is of efficacy for haemorrhage, cystic ulceration and ulcers in the urinary passages.

The decoction applied externally will stop the bleeding of wounds and quickly heal them, and will also reduce the swelling of eyelids.

Back to Catalog: Horsetail

Herbal Properties Index