Healing Herbs A to Z

Healing Herbs A to Z

Alfalfa € (Medicago sativa)

Grass native to Iran in the Bronze Age, planted for animal feed and as a nitrogen soil fixative worldwide; more a food plant than a medicinal herb but also used medicinally; high in minerals and vitamins, amino acids, protein, enzymes, iron, and chlorophyll, good protein source for vegetarians; tonic, detoxifier, liver and blood cleanser, pituitary stimulant, glandular balance; diuretic for fluid retention, swelling, edema, kidney stones, bladder and kidney infections, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbago, prostate enlargement, jaundice; used for stomach disorders, all types of ulcers, colitis, to help increase appetite, listed by some sources as a cure for diabetes; used externally as a poultice for black-and-blue bruises, wounds, joint pain, and muscle pain; bath herb, facial steam, hair rinse. Reduces high fevers, reduces bleeding, helps blood clot, lowers high blood pressure, lowers cholesterol; antiviral, clears infections, clears grass allergies, aids drug and alcohol withdrawal, laxative, provides vitamins and nutrients to aid and prevent night blindness; good in pregnancy to prevent bleeding, increases breast milk, reduces tooth decay, promotes healthy teeth and bones in mother and child, prevents anemia, strengthens children that fail to thrive and grow, strengthens connective tissue; combine white willow, burdock, and alfalfa for a tasty arthritis tea. Nutrient, tonic, appetite stimulant, diuretic. No known side effects; avoid with gout and lupus, overuse of alfalfa can induce lupus in susceptible people; allergy potential if allergic to peas, soy, or peanuts; may interfere with diabetic drugs, diuretics, blood thinners (anticoagulants).

All Heal € See Self Heal

Aloe Vera € (Also known as Aloe barbadensis)

Use in topical gel or 2 to 4 ounces of juice drunk daily; juice has almost no taste and is most effective when a tablespoon of liquid chlorophyll is added; also used during colonic treatments; effective for all skin irritations and dis-eases, burns, radiation burns, sunburn, boils, insect bites, athlete's foot, poison ivy and oak, wounds, cuts, acne, eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, dark spots on skin, scalp and hair damage and dis-eases; skin moisturizer and cell regenerator; heals gum dis-ease and mouth canker sores (rinse with liquid); use as a gargle for sore throat and tonsillitis; prevents infection, helps bronchial congestion, antiseptic and tissue-soothing for cystitis and kidney infection, detoxifies; drink juice to heal internal ulcers (ulcerative colitis, ulcerative bowel dis-eases, and stomach ulcers); best remedy for constipation, bowel regularity, intestinal irritations and dis-eases, inflammatory bowel dis-eases, hemorrhoids, heartburn, upset stomach, reduces toxic flora in intestines and yeast overruns, liver damage, detoxifies and cleanses the entire digestive system, aid for weight loss and loss of appetite; heals the uterus and brings on menses, can be used as a douche; helps joint and muscle strain and pain, especially after hard exercise; increases protein absorption; immune enhancer, tonic; increases general energy and feelings of well-being; reduces triglycerides, reduces total cholesterol, increases good HDL cholesterol; high in minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, astringent, diuretic, liver tonic, laxative, wound healer. Possible side effects: cramps, diarrhea, laxative dependence; do not use with abdominal pain (possible appendicitis), avoid in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Angelica € (Angelica archangelica, Angelica officinalis)

Garden angelica, also called wild celery; not the Chinese angelica (dong quai); expectorant to clear infections with lung congestion: colds, cough, flu, pleurisy, bronchitis, pneumonia, whooping cough, asthma; can be used as a chest poultice; strengthens digestion, reduces gas, colic, heartburn, gastritis, appetite loss, anorexia nervosa; increases blood sugar levels; regulates the menstrual cycle, helps restore cycles after going off the Pill, brings on menses, eases menstrual cramps, PMS, mood swings, water retention, and contracts the uterus; immune stimulant; diuretic and urinary antiseptic for cystitis, gout, rheumatism; reduces fever by sweating; calms the nerves; aids weakness, debility, and recovery after illness; warms the body, stimulates circulation especially to the extremities; use for cold hands and feet, Buerger's dis-ease (narrowed arteries in hands and feet), neuralgia. Expectorant, astringent, diuretic, digestive stimulant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, tonic. Possible side effects: contact dermatitis; not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, by diabetics, with heart dis-ease, or when taking blood thinners. Oil is never to be used internally; safe short term but may cause photosensi-tivity; not for use in the eyes.

Artichoke Leaf € (Cynara scolymus)

Related to milk thistle and with similar function, do not confuse with Jerusalem artichoke; major use is for promoting optimal liver function, which in turn reduces indigestion and high cholesterol; liver detoxifier, stimulates bile flow, opens obstructed bile ducts, prevents gallstones, antioxidant liver protector, aids insufficient liver function, aids liver regeneration, inhibits cholesterol production, stimulates breakdown and elimination of cholesterol; used for symptoms of nonspecific liver insufficiency, including fatigue, headache, lassitude, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn, discomfort after meals, inability to eat foods with fat, increased allergies and sensitivities; used for inflamed liver, jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, excessive use of alcohol, fatty liver; protects from liver damage; cleanses and protects the liver from pollutants, chemicals, alcohol; also lowers blood sugar levels (diabetes); facilitates function in kidney dis-ease, irritable bowel syndrome; normalizes bowel peristalsis, prevents viral replication in HIV and cancer, aids indigestion, anemia; lowers triglycerides, helps prevent heart dis-ease, may prevent DNA damage. Antioxidant, liver protective, bile stimulant. Not for use with gallstones or obstructed bile ducts, in pregnancy or breastfeeding; possible side effects: allergic reactions, gas, skin rash; no listed warnings or drug interactions.

Ashwaganda € (Withania somnifera)

Adaptogen similar in properties to Korean ginseng, used for thousands of years in India, also called winter cherry; used alone and in many herbal combinations; normalizes healthy whole body function when challenged by stress; supports adaptation to stress, resistance to dis-ease and aging; promotes better physical and mental performance; nourishes the brain, muscles, bones, and endocrine system; promotes immune function; also is antioxidant, rejuvenator, tonic, anti-inflammatory, sexual enhancer; prevents some cancers and tumors; enhances mental function for memory, mood, clarity, alertness, concentration, and focus; aids debility, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, adrenal exhaustion, mental and physical fatigue including stress-induced fatigue, chronic fatigue, insomnia; also used for arthritis, rheumatism, ulcers, swollen glands, colds, cough, flu, bronchitis, inflamed eyes, anemia, infertility, gynecological disorders, aging, and to induce general feeling of vitality and wellness. Adaptogen, anti-_-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-oxidant, antistress. No toxicity but may cause drow-siness; overdose causes restlessness; best when taken only a few days a week, or take for three weeks and stop for the fourth; should not be used in pregnancy or breastfeeding; increases the effects of other herbs and drugs (expert advice recommended).

Astragalus € (Astragalus membranaceus)

Used in traditional Chinese medicine for immune enhancement, immune balancing, and all auto-immune dis-eases; safe used long term; delicious as a tea or in soup; use for all immune dis-eases, chronic fatigue, CMV (cytomegalovirus), HIV and AIDS, HPV (human papilloma virus, cervical cancer, vaginal warts), tuberculosis, lupus; anticancer, may increase effectiveness of chemotherapy, reduces chemotherapy side effects (especially fatigue, appetite loss) and genital herpes; asthma, multiple allergies, long-standing infections, stomach ulcers, arthritis; increases white blood cell count, supports the adrenals; useful for critical dis-eases including stroke, heart dis-ease, heart inflammation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, improves heart function, kidney dis-ease and failure, liver dis-ease and hepatitis B and C, diabetes (reduces blood sugar levels), diabetes leg and foot ulcers, diabetic neuropathy, hyperthyroidism; also for viral infections (colds, flu), upper respiratory infections, fever, anemia, wound healing, burn healing, indigestion (diarrhea, gas, bloating, colic), irregular menstruation, menstrual disorders, insomnia, diuretic, tonic; enhances athletic performance, increases mental acuity in children, possible help in Alzheimer's dis-ease and dementia, aids in stopping smoking. Antiviral, immune enhancer, anticancer, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant. Few or no side effects but large overdose can suppress the immune system; okay for children if they do not have a fever; may increase the effects of antiviral drugs, diabetes drugs, blood pressure drugs, blood thinners, diuretics; may counteract immune-depressant drugs like cyclosporine.

Bacopa € (Bacopa monnieri)

Ayurvedic herb, also called water hyssop; benefits mind, spirit, and consciousness; used to consecrate and "awaken" newborns; tonic that supports and enhances brain and mental function, cognitive function, increases intelligence, short- and long-term memory, alertness, mental clarity, learning, information retention, concentration; used for neurodegenerative dis-eases, such as Alzheimer's dis-ease, ADHD and restlessness in children, senility of aging, mental disorders, forgetfulness, depression, students' learning aid; relaxant, mildly sedative, antianxiety, antiseizure; cardio tonic, digestive aid, improves respiratory function, thyroid stimulant, protects the liver from drug damage, reduces fats in blood; free-radical antioxidant; rejuvenates; reduces allergies and allergic reactions for asthma, hay fever, eczema; protects the gastrointestinal tract lining and decreases smooth muscle spasms for indigestion, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome; laxative; inhibits cancer growth; also for anemia, fevers, bronchitis, bronchial constriction, antifungal for Candida albicans. Antioxidant, vasodilator, anticancer, sedative, antifungal, antimicrobial. No listed side effects; long-term use is needed for benefit; may decrease effectiveness of thyroid drugs and increase effects of sedatives.

Barberry € (Berberis vulgaris)

The root and bright red berries of the prickly hedge, used since ancient Egypt as a medicinal; can be substituted for Oregon grape root or goldenseal; stimulant and cleanser for the liver, normalizes liver function, promotes bile flow, clears jaundice, reduces enlarged liver and spleen; digestive bitter, indigestion, heartburn; treats bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, kills Pseudomonas bacteria, E. coli, Streptococcus, and other bacteria in the body: bacterial diarrhea, traveler's dysentery, food poisoning, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections (sore throat, lung and nasal congestion, sinusitis, bronchitis, conjunctivitis), skin infections and dis-eases; intestinal parasites, yeast overrun; also used for gout and rheumatism, abnormal uterine bleeding, fever, convulsions, appetite stimulant, immune stimulant, sedative; lowers blood pressure by dilating blood vessels; may shrink tumors. Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, laxative, bitter tonic. Overdose side effects include diarrhea, nosebleed, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, drop in blood pressure, kidney dis-ease; not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for infants; not for those with heart or chronic respiratory dis-eases; use short term only; may increase or decrease the effects of some medical drugs.

Bee Propolis, Bee Pollen € See Propolis

Beet Root € (Beta vulgaris)

Properties of sugar beet (or borscht beet) are long known to juicers-juicing is still the best way to utilize the benefits; blood purifier, regenerates red blood cells, high in iron, regulates blood pH balance, heals acidosis, heals anemia, replaces blood loss in menstruating women, raises low blood sugar, increases energy and vitality, and oxygenates the body through the blood; detoxifies the liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys; clears obstructions from liver and spleen; for liver dis-eases, jaundice, hepatitis, cirrhosis, biliousness, liver toxicity from alcohol, constipation and diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids; promotes bowel peristalsis; inhibits formation of tumors, growths, and cancer cells; promotes resistance to cancer, dissolves cancer cells and tumors; reduces tumors of lung, prostate, breast, and uterus; promising antiviral for HIV/AIDS; lowers high blood pressure, lowers total and LDL cholesterol to prevent heart dis-ease and strokes; skin detoxifier used internally and as a poultice to draw out toxins, for acne, boils, abscesses, scabs, skin infections and inflammations, measles and children's eruptive dis-eases, dandruff; also for varicose veins, ulcers, fever, swollen glands, sore throat, viral and bacterial infections, resistance to infections and dis-ease, and as an aphrodisiac. Anticancer, antitumor, liver protective, detoxifier. A nutritious food, no known warnings, cautions, or drug interactions; take care not to overuse and detoxify too quickly; start with very small amounts and increase gradually, cut back if uncomfortable; red urine from beet ingestion is harmless.

Bilberry € (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Relative to the blueberry plant, used medicinally by Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179); active ingredients are anthocyanosides, strong antioxidants, also high in vitamin C; protects, heals, and regenerates the capillaries, increases capillary circulation, reduces blood clots, relaxes all the blood vessels of the circulatory system; stops bleeding, prevents easy bruising, lowers risk of heart attacks and strokes, reduces high blood pressure, lowers triglycerides, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood sugar, regenerates connective tissue, and protects against cancer (anti-angiogenesis); for peripheral vascular dis-eases: improves night vision, reduces or reverses degenerative eye dis-eases, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, eyestrain, myopia, retinitis pigmentosa; varicose veins, spider veins, swollen legs, chronic venous insufficiency, Raynaud's syndrome, Bell's palsy, emphysema, hemorrhoids, fibrocystic breast dis-ease; also for chronic inflammatory dis-eases, gastrointestinal dis-eases, diarrhea, dysentery, food poisoning, peptic ulcers (inhibits H. pylori bacteria), blood in stool or urine, bleeding gums; liver dis-eases, gallstones, kidney dis-ease; inflamed mucous membranes, respiratory viruses, sore throat, fevers, skin infections and ulcers, wounds; diuretic for cystitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, rheumatism, and painful menstruation; prevents or stops production of breast milk. Antioxidant, diuretic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, vascular protective. Considered a food and very safe, no side effects with normal use; overdose effects include indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea; safe in pregnancy but may stop breast milk if nursing; caution with diabetes drugs (bilberry lowers blood sugar), blood thinners, antiulcer drugs, and laxative drugs.

Bitter Melon € (Momordica charantia)

Known and used in India, Asia, South America, Africa, and the Caribbean as an insulin substitute for the treatment of diabetes; regulates blood sugar, works by suppressing the neural response to sweet-taste stimuli, increases production of beta cells in the pancreas, regulates carbohydrate metabolism, increases cell uptake of glucose, raises insulin levels in the blood, increases effectiveness of diabetic medications; also reduces high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels; stimulates digestion, lowers body temperature, reduces inflammation, detoxifies, raises immune function, is contraceptive, may help prevent HIV replication, and may be effective against leukemia and a variety of cancers; used for many illnesses and dis-eases: constipation, mucus conditions, fevers, colds and coughs, flu, hemorrhoids, jaundice, intestinal worms and parasites, indigestion, acute gastritis, poor digestion, malaria, chronic fatigue, ulcers, skin conditions, sores and wounds; increases breast milk, and regulates hormones. Antibacterial, antioxidant, antimicrobial, astringent, antispasmodic, antiviral, hypoglycemic. Possible side effects: diarrhea or indigestion; diabetics need to monitor blood sugar levels carefully with any antidiabetic herb or drug; not for use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, or if wanting to get pregnant; not for those with hypoglycemia.

Blackberry € (Rubus fructicosus, Rubus species)

Delicious in tea and easily available in any supermarket; active ingredient is tannin, an herbal astringent; primarily used for diarrhea and sore throat; for diarrhea, dysentery, food poisoning, hemorrhoids, bowel inflammations, intestinal ulcers; inflammation of throat, mouth, gums; tightens loose teeth; common cold with sore throat, laryngitis, tonsillitis, lung dis-eases, bronchitis; loosens phlegm; also reduces heavy menstrual flow, brings on menses, corrects lack of menses; uterine tonic, douche for vaginitis; eases labor pain; skin tonic and for all skin conditions (used externally), boils, eczema; black hair dye; traditionally used for whooping cough, appendicitis, and cholera; diuretic for swollen feet and ankles (kidney and heart dis-ease), gout, swollen arthritic joints, rheumatism, cystitis; poison antidote, antidote for venomous snakebites and insect bites; anemia; antioxidant to prevent and reverse cell damage, preventive for heart dis-ease, cancer, strokes, degenerative eye dis-eases such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Anti-inflammatory, astringent, tonic, mild diuretic, stops bleeding. A very few sensitive individuals may experience nausea or vomiting, especially those with chronic gastrointestinal disease; no known drug interactions.