Herb

Many people who take pharmaceutical medication also want to take some herbal remedies. However, there can be difficulties with this as the chemicals in the two preparations can interact – changing the effect of the pharmaceutical drugs and the herbs. If you are taking medical drugs you need to be aware of potential interactions with herbs. Herbs can in many instances provide a safer alternative to pharmaceutical medication (especially when other measures to improve health are also undertaken). However, because of the potential for interactions it is wise to be under the supervision of a health professional as you make changes.

The following is a list of common potential interactions between medical drugs and herbs.

• Anti-hypertensive dugs – used to lower blood pressure.
Grapefruit juice may enhance the effect by reducing their metabolic breakdown. Vitamin B3, magnesium and calcium can also enhance the effect of anti-hypertensives.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). NSAIDs are known to irritate the gastrointestinal linking and are linked to the development of intestinal ulcers. This means that they, for preference, need to be avoided. However, if you are taking NSAID then avoid anything else that is likely to increase the irritation of the intestinal lining. This includes all alcohol, coffee Arabica and uva-ursi.

• Corticosteroids such as prednisone and cortisone. These drugs are used for their anti-inflammatory effects and in having this effect they are immune suppressing. Using with immune stimulating herbs such as astragalus, echinacea, licorice root, alfalfa sprouts, and zinc lozenges may offset the immunosuppressive effects.

• Cyclosporine – sandimmune (an antibiotic). Grapefruit juice may cause increased cyclosporine levels and St. John’s wort may decrease levels.

• Digoxin – lanoxin (a heart drug). Some herbs are digoxin like and have the same effect as the medical drug. Taking these herbs together with digoxin is like taking an overdose. There herbs include hawthorn berry, foxglove, senticosus and Siberian ginseng. Aloe vera, taken in large doses, can irritate the intestine and cause a purgative effect. If this is severe enough – with the loss of sufficient fluid there can be a decrease in serum potassium levels and problems with the heart beat. Also avoid use with quinine, which may increase digoxin levels. (Quinine is found in tonic water.) Avoid use with the herb licorice root (this is the herb and not the candy), as its diuretic effect can result in low potassium levels and toxicity. Fibers, such as psyllium, decrease digoxin absorption, within two hours of taking medication.

• Diuretics – acetazolamide, thiazides (fluid tablets). There are many herbs that have a diuretic effect. These include artichoke, goldenseal, celery seeds, and dandelion. These herbs will increase the diuretic effect of the medical drugs.

• Hypoglycemic agents – glucotrol, glucophage, diabeta, insulin. (Used to control blood sugar levels). There are herbs that contain hyper or hypoglycemic components. These include: broom, buchu, dandelion, juniper, karela and the minerals chromium, vanadium and magnesium. Some of these improve glucose tolerance.

• Phenobarbital – ancalixir, barbital, solfoton, luminal sodium. Herbs containing thujones and vitamin B6 may lower seizure threshold. Wormwood may potentiate phenobarbital effects.

• Lithium – Butcher’s broom, buchu, dandelion and juniper may enhance the effect of lithium and cause possible toxicity.

• Phenytoin – dilantin, phenytex. Ayurvedic preparation shankapulshipi diminishes anti-epileptic effect.

• Thyroid medication – synthroid. Large quantities of horseradish may depress thyroid function. Kelp contains iodine, which may result in excess thyroid levels when taken with thyroid replacement medications.

• Warfarin, coumadin, sofarin (blood thinners). There are many herbs that act as blood thinners and these taken with the medical drugs can result in increased bleeding. Some of these herbs include cayenne, feverfew, garlic, ginger, white willow bark (aspirin), St John’s wort, alfalfa and ginkgo biloba. Taking over 1000 IU of vitamin E or the papaya enzyme papain may also result in increased bleeding.

High doses of herbs such as dong quai, quinine and devil’s claw may cause decreased blood thinning activity. High doses of vitamin C, A and K may also result in lessened anticoagulant effect.

The list above contains some of the common potential interactions between medical drugs and herbs. There are potentially many more. This does not mean that you shouldn’t use herbs if you are taking medical drugs. You should however understand the potential effects.

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Bilberry is related to the Blueberry plant, in that both come from the Latin plant genus Vaccinium. Bilberry’s full Latin botanical name is Vaccinium myrtillus. Bilberry goes by several common names, including myrtle blueberry, whinberry, blaeberry and whortleberry. Like blueberries, Bilberries can be eaten, and their fruit is round, sweet and blue-colored like the blueberry, but they are smaller in circumference. The fruit makes wonderful jam and pie filling. They are commonly found in cold Northern countries including Norway, Iceland, and Britain, as well as Northern Asia and Macedonia.

Bilberry is available in several different forms. Bilberry is commonly sold as bilberries whole, bilberry capsules, and bilberry leaf. The bilberry leaf is available in three forms: cut and sifted, powdered and in capsules. Organic bilberry leaf is also available.

Bilberry leaf has had several common uses in folk medicine, including treatment of the intestines. In studies done on rats, bilberries whole was used to prevent macular degeneration and cataracts. However, a full scientific study on humans has not yet been conducted. Anthocyanin pigments are abundantly found in bilberries extract and bilberry capsules. Anthocyanins are antioxidants, which help to keep cells in the human body from oxidizing and becoming damaged. As an herb containing antioxidants, bilberry capsules may help to reduce the risk for heart complications and cancer. The leaves, which go into bilberry capsules, may help as an antiseptic, may also help as an astringent, may help with kidney problems and to increase urine flow. Bilberries may also be made into a tonic to generally and slowly improve health. The leaves of the bilberry can also be used as a fabric dye, giving the fabric a green tint.

Organic bilberries have been specially grown and processed in order to achieve organic certification by the United States Department of Agriculture. The plants that reach the standard of organic must not be grown with any synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers; neither must either of these be used on the land on which the crop is grown. Certain bilberry products are also available that have been certified kosher.

Online herb stores stock a wide variety of medicinal herbs, including bilberry, and other types of herbs. You will find dried herbs and spices perfect for cooking up dishes in a variety of cuisines. Dried herbs also can be used in personal care products such as cosmetics and body lotions. Herbal extracts and essential oils are often added to laundry soaps and rinses to impart wonderful fragrance.

One should always take care when contemplating medicinal herbs. No herbs have been thoroughly evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and thus cannot be considered medicine by FDA standards. If you have a health concern, seek the advice of your health care provider right away.

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For urban folks a container herb garden is the answer for those wanting to have fresh herbs within easy reach daily. However due to lack of space they are unable to avail of it. Persons who have to constantly change their addresses will find it easier to handle an indoor herbs garden. It is not necessary for them to start anew with a new set of herbs each time the shift; neither do they have to suffice with the alternative of dried herbs.

A pot herbs garden can flourish using pots made from plastic or terracotta. Use of terracotta is preferred. Some of the other containers may contain toxic compounds that will harm the plants in the urns.

The soil required for these herbs garden is not the same as the usual soil in the garden. The latter may be rich in nutrients but it also tends to get lumpy. This blocks the respiration of the roots in the container. Secondly, through this lumpy soil, water does not easily seep through. Thus special soil will enhance the beauty and fecundity of the container herb garden. Moist soil having hydrogel granules will eliminate the requirement of frequently watering the plants.

Seeds and germinated plants are the best for the urn herb gardens. Seeds require some time – nearly a month, before plants sprout. This delay might put off many from this hobby. Seedlings take nearly a week to grow. However some herbs like mint do not easily adapt to new soil. So for some kinds of herbs it is better to opt for seeds for the urn garden. Lavender however responds quickly and grows easily from seedlings.

The choice of what herbs will be planted for the urn herbs plot is entirely personal. For those who want some relief a pot full of lavender will add the right colour and smell. The gourmet cook will want pots full of basil, thyme or rosemary and even cilantro etc.

Having a container garden in the house is a great idea. It is a thrilling experience to pluck fresh herbs right out from the containers sitting on the kitchen and window sills. These can be popped on to the salad bowl or straight into the boiling pot for the added flavour.

Last but not least is the important fact that the super market herbs will never taste or smell as wonderful as the organic ones grown in the home container herb garden.

Why not create your own containers garden with Containers, pots and Planting boxes which are easy to maintain but still yields great results.
I’m a garden lover for many years. Always had a beautiful garden and always looked for ways to improve it. After my children the garden is my number one priority.
Self-maintained colorful garden is a dream of almost every house owner. We all want our house to look nice and be decorated with colors and fragrance.

The turmeric herb, the plant that produces the ubiquitous yellow curry powder, is known to biologists by its botanical name curcuma longa. Turmeric is indispensable for daily home cooking as well as for the special dishes of many an executive chef.

The turmeric herb is also an important item in the medicine cabinet of healers of alternative systems of medicine. The mainstream allopathic medical system of has also woken up to the curative powers of this herb.

Curcumin and curcuminoids are the chemicals in the turmeric herb that makes it a minor panacea for a variety of ailments. Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

This property accounts for its effectiveness in treating sundry diseases like heart problems, arthritis, digestive complaints, cataract, skin problems, liver problems, internal and external inflammation of all types and even cancer.

Curcumin is a natural COX-2 inhibitor that can prevent the formation of prostaglandins which cause swelling and inflammation. As this is done without producing any negative side effects, its use for relieving joint pain and swelling of arthritis is safer than the use of most anti-inflammatory drugs.

Experiments have shown it to be cancer-preventive and very effective in lowering cholesterol. Other benefits are the destruction of harmful body bacteria, improving the functioning of the liver and general detoxification of the body.

The multiple benefits of the turmeric herb can be made available through different forms of consumption. It can be used for daily cooking and a teaspoon of powdered turmeric mixed in a glass of warm milk can be taken as a remedy for bad digestion. However, to maintain control and regularity, it is best taken as a multi-ingredient health supplement.

When taken in this form, all the benefits of turmeric will be available for users. In fact one gets enhanced benefits because the combined action of different nutrients always becomes more effective than the sum total of their individual effects – a concept known as synergy.

I am aware of and do use a multi-ingredient product that is helpful for eye health, antioxidants, skin health, cancer protection and many other conditions that creep up on us with age. It contains a multiplicity of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and factors all of which work cooperatively together.

This not only provides the benefits of the turmeric herb, but also those of the other ingredients. Please visit my website if you would like to know more about the product that I have researched and recommend.

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Potted herb gardens can be grown strictly indoors, strictly outdoors, or using a happy combination of both places. Some have got this dual-growth method down to an easy science, potting their precious plants in large, wheeled pots for easy movement throughout the house and the yard. This can be ideal for those plants who are rather finicky about the amount of direct sunlight or shade that they receive on any given day. It is also much easier to shield them from the elements when they are on rolling planters, and these pots can be worked outdoors for less mess and aggravation, then rolled back into the house once the dirty job is over.

Growing herbs in pots allows for a certain amount of freedom and flexibility, and this is one of the main reasons that this hobby has spiked in popularity. Potted herb gardens can be designed and plotted, just as you would your outdoor flower or vegetable garden, to bring texture, beauty, and fragrance to any space within your walls. Because herbs tend to rejuvenate or be replaced quite often, you can change up your arrangements and designs easily with very little worry.

A popular way of displaying potted herb gardens is to tier them, either on garden window racks or on planter shelving, so that you can create a good amount of spacing and depth without having to grow a multitude of plants just for display. Perhaps the most important aspect of herb garden design is that having to do with the needs of each individual species. You might have an Italian herb garden that you need to set up, and these flavors and scents all mesh together very well, but the needs of thyme, for instance, as compared with the needs of rosemary are quite different.

A good rule of thumb when creating an herb garden design for your window planter or large round pot is to place those stall herbs, such as thyme, in the middle of the planter, or on the edge closest to the wall if you don’t have a garden window or wide sill. This method keeps taller plants who are sun lovers from crowding and shading the more tender plants in the pot. For oblong planters, the taller herbs should be placed in the middle as well, planting each other herb in progression to the smallest or most apt to climb or creep.

Glenna is an herb garden enthusiast that grows herbs for my culinary taste. I love trying new flavors by substituting a different herb in a recipe or by adding to the recipe. Visit my website http://www.GrowingHerbsYourself.com for more about herbs.

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Have you ever heard of Melissa officinalis? It is the official name for the herb lemon balm but is also called bee balm, Melissa, sweet balm, and cure-all. Lemon balm is a member of the popular mint family from the Mediterranean region. Its leaves give off a strong lemon scent when rubbed. It’s a hardy perennial that grows into a bush about 24 inches round and can be cut two or three times during a growing season. Lemon Balm looks very similar to mint, with light green, ridged leaves.

Though a native to southern Europe, lemon balm is now found growing throughout the world. The lemony smell and pretty white flowers of the lemon balm plant have led to its widespread cultivation in gardens. Its leaves, stems, and flowers have all been used for centuries. Quotes from literature as far back as the 1600’s mention lemon balm by name, speaking of its power in exaggerated prose.

The tannins and polyphenols in lemon balm extracts are both antibacterial and antiviral. It has been used to help treat strep, mumps, and most notably, herpes. Creams and ointments that include lemon balm have helped to heal cold sores or genital sores induced by the herpes simplex virus. However, unlike prescription drugs, lemon balm doesn’t cause unpleasant side effects like nausea, vomiting, and irregular menstruation. Its antiviral properties may be due to the caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid compounds it contains.

Lemon balm not only helps speed the healing of wounds, but also contains eugenol, a natural pain reliever. Studies have shown that the fragrance of the herb has a sedating effect, which lines up with its traditional use for treatment of nervous disorders such as chronic nervousness, anxiety, and slight insomnia. Lemon balm can be compared with mint in the soothing effect it has on the stomach and the positive effect it has on the digestive system. Its sedative properties is found specifically in some of the chemicals it contains in volatile oils, including citronellal and citrals A and B.

Extract from lemon balm has been administered intravenously to help normalize overactive thyroid function, particularly in those who have a hyperactive condition called Graves’ disease. Phytochemicals in the herb are thought to keep the antibodies that cause Graves’ disease and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from attaching to thyroid gland receptors. Lemon balm may also help to block some of the secretion of the thyroid gland and its ability to release hormones in the body. Note: If you are currently on thyroid medication, taking lemon balm may cause interaction problems with your prescribed medications.

Lemon balm has been shown to help relax spasms affecting the smooth muscles (such as those in the uterus and intestines) in the body. It is therefore sometimes recommended for treatment of painful cramping caused by conditions such as premenstrual syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. It may also improve memory and lengthen attention span in patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Yet another case study showed the use of lemon balm in aromatherapy, applying or inhaling fragrances to affect the mood. One person shared they make floor cleaner by mixing three-parts water to one-part white vinegar, then add a few sprigs of crushed lemon balm. The fragrance masks the vinegar smell and the lemon may add some antiseptic qualities.

You can enjoy the benefits of lemon balm through many means, including creams, tablets, capsules, teas, tinctures, and extracts. The typical dosage is 1 teaspoon of the extract daily, or 1 1/2 teaspoons of tincture. You can also add 1 to 3 teaspoons of the dried lemon balm leaves to a cup of hot water to make a homemade tea. You can also add its dried leaves to the bath. Use it if you have difficulty sleeping or to reduce stomach problems such as flatulence, or bloating. For children, lemon balm may be used topically on cold sores. The dosage would be the same as the recommendations for this use in adults. For internal use, adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child’s weight (above based on 150 lb. adult).

Lemon balm herb has been prized by bee keepers since earliest time. It has the ability to attract and nurture swarms of bees, and provide a remedy for their stings. Do not combine lemon balm herb with any other sedatives. This may increase the effects of those drugs. For example, if you have a thyroid disorder and are on medication, consult a physician before taking this herbal supplement. As soon as you’ve been cleared, buy lemon balm and enjoy its benefits to your health!

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Willow – Salix alba

Willow information and how it is used as a herb in alternative herbal treatments to treat ailments and problems, such as to break and bring down fever, rheumatism, arthritis and gout.

Although we believe in the therapeutic and healing properties of herbs, care must be taken in the use thereof, as they are powerful compounds.

Botanical Classification: Family Salicaceae

Genus and specie: Salix alba

Other names:

White Willow or osier.

Description of the herb willow:

This large tree with its deeply fissured bark and hanging branches are a well-known site in river and wetland areas.

Parts used:

The bark is normally used, although the leaves can also be used.

Properties:

It is a bitter, astringent herb with cooling properties, which relieves pain, lowers fever and reduces inflammation.

It contains phenolic glycosides, such as salicylates (salicortin, salicin, tremulacin), syringin and triandrin, as well as phenolic acid (chlorogenic acid) and oligomeric proanthocyanidins.

Therapeutic uses:

Internal use:

The bark and leaves are very effective to break and bring down minor fevers and colic.

The bark is most helpful to treat rheumatism, arthritis and gout, as well as diarrhea and dysentery, headache and neuralgia.

The pain relieving action as analgesic is due to the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by the salicin derivatives, which cause sensitization of peripheral pain receptors, and “natural aspirin” from the willow bark seems to have far less side effects than the synthetic aspirin made by pharmaceutical companies.

External use:

Willow bark extract has shown excellent results when dealing with acne and problem skin. This also works as a beta-hydroxy acid, and is included in various cosmetic products for this purpose.

Aromatherapy and essential oil use:

None noted.

Safety precautions and warnings

No parts of the willow should be used by people who are sensitive to aspirin (salicylates) although the natural aspirin contained in willow is deemed to be less irritating than synthetic aspirin.

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