Category: Anti-fungal

Red Root

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‘Red Root’

ceanothus-americanus-red-root-illustration.jpg

Common names for Red Root include Redshank, Mountain Lilac, Buckbrush, Snow Brush, and Desert Buckthorn.

Modern day use of this herb was influenced by American Indian use.  The Cherokee Indians used the root as a digestive tonic, and the Iroquois made a strong decoction from the astringent leaves to stop diarrhoea. They also used the root to improve blood flow and to treat colds.

Allopathic medicine discovered it in 1835 where they used it as a antihemorrhagic astringent to stop bleeding during operations.

During the Civil War, Red Root was used to treat ‘ague cake’; swollen spleen associated with malaria and intermittent fever.

Botanical Name: Ceanothus americanus 

Botanical Family: Rhamnaceae 

Part Used: Root or inner bark of the root. Roots are covered in little nodules, representative of its use on the lymphatic nodes.

Qualities: Neutral, warming, sweet to taste.  Leaves taste similar to black tea (was used for this purpose during the Revolution)

Dosage: 15 – 40 mL/week 1:2 LE

Emotional/Energetics: Symptoms worse in damp cold weather. Tongue is swollen; dirty white coating. Slow, frail pulse. Cold extremities. Excess damp (spleen). Stagnant.

‘For people who cannot think their way out of a problem’ – ‘When the spleen is strong… the imagination flourishes. Life is happy, well-adjusted, vibrant and meaningful’ Wood.

Constituents: 

  • Betulin, betulinic acid (triterpenes), bacteriohopanetrol 
  • Ceanothic acid, ceanothenic acid, ceanothine (alkaloid), ceanothamine
  • Americane 
  • Integerressine, Integerreine, Integerrine
  • Methyl salicylate
  • Flavonoids, flavonoids glycosides, flavonoids, dihydroflavonols
  • High amount of tannins
  • Iron, protein, copper, zinc, magnesium, calcium
  • Nitrogen

Actions:

  • Alterative
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-fungal
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Anti-oxidant
  • Astringent
  • Anti-spasmodic
  • Blood coagulant
  • Haemostatic
  • Expectorant
  • Lymphatic stimulant/tonic
  • Spleen tonic
  • Mucus membrane tonic
  • Hepatic stimulant/tonic
  • Mild hypotensive

Ceanothus_americanus

Indications:

  • Mouth ulcers/tooth abscess
  • Asthma, bronchitis, cough, pharyngitis, sinusitis, tonsilitis
  • Blood – red blood cell clumping
  • Menorrhagia
  • Ovarian cysts
  • Pelvic Congestion
  • Diarrhoea
  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Mastitis
  • Headache – THICK FRONTAL (after fatty meals)
  • Liver stagnation
  • Lymphatic stagnation
  • Splenitis/mild splenomegaly
  • Lymphatic congestion – weakness and bogginess
  • Swollen glands
  • Swollen sore throat
  • Swollen prostate
  • Oedema
  • Bacterial & viral infections
  • EBV Glandular fever
  • Loss of appetite

American eclectic medicine: Used by Native Americans as wash for injured legs/feet and used powdered bark for sores caused by venereal disease.  Infusions of the root were used for mouth issues, bowel and stomach issues and for flu type symptoms. 

Indicated for clanged spleen and enlarged liver. STAGNATION.

SPECIFIC – Swollen spleen accompanied with melancholia

Wood says that a swollen tongue covered with a dirty white coating is the best indication of Red Root as a remedy.

SAFETY: Safe within dosage ranges – both short and long term.

CONTRAINDICATED IN PREGNANCY . Limited research for pregnancy and lactation, so not recommended.

DO NOT USE in people with coagulation disorders.

May also lower blood pressure – so caution for people with already lowered BP

AVOID USING WITH THESE PHARMACEUTICALS: coagulants or anti-coagulants.

Dose:

1:2 LE  15 – 40 mL week

Wood suggests drop doses to be effective – even in lowest homeopathic potency.

3 drops 3 x day

Combinations:

Lymph/Spleen – Calendula

ceanothus-americanus-14375c00-3ef2-4083-b79b-d0f8e6f8eb0-resize-750.jpeg

Wood, M. (1997). The book of herbal wisdom.

Kava

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“Kava”

 

Botanical Name: Piper methysticum

Common name: Kava

Family: Piperaceae

Parts Used: Root

Active Constituents:

  • Kavalactones
  • Methysticin
  • Dihydromethisticin
  • Kavain
  • Dhihydrokavain
  • Desmethoxyangonin
  • Flavonoids – flavokavains

Qualities: Cool, grounding

Actions: 

  • Anxiolytic
  • Hypnotic
  • Anticonvulsant
  • Mild sedative
  • Skeletal muscle relaxant
  • Spasmolytic
  • Mild analgesic Topically
  • Local anaesthetic
  • Antipruritic
  • Mild analgesic
  • Antifungal

Indications: 

Nervous System

  • Anxiety / restlessness
  • Insomnia
  • Stress
  • Neuralgia (toothache, earache, ocular pain)
  • Headache
  • Muscle tension
  • Menopausal NS sx
  • Withdrawal from benzo’s

Genito-urinary

  • Inflammation and infection
  • Cystitis, urethritis, dysuria, renal colic

Locally

  • Sore throat
  • Tooth ache

SUMMARY:

Relief of nervous tension and sleeplessness.

Relief of stress.

Relief of sore throat, headache or muscular tension.

Contraindications:

  • Pre-existing liver disease
  • Not recommended in pregnancy or children
  • Discontinue 7 days prior to general anaesthesia

Cautions:

Dosage:

42 – 84 ml/week (Bone)

250mg kavalactones per day

Combinations:

Use with Valerian for insomnia with components of stress, anxiety or muscle tension

References & Links to Articles:

Pau D’arco

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Latin Botanical: Tabebuia avellanedae

Common Name(s): Pau d’arco, Lapacho

Family: Bignoniaceae

Part(s) Used: Bark

Qualities: Cool (Holmes)

Constituants: • Napthaquinones, furanonapthoquinone mainly lapachol. (antibacteral, antiviral, antifungal, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cancer preventative, immune stimulant) • Benzoic acid derivatives • Iridoid glycosides

Actions: 

• Immune enhancing

• Depurative

• Anti-tumour (antineoplastic, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, anti-invasive, apoptotic, etc especially betalapachone, in vitro and in animals)

• Antibacterial

• Antifungal

• Antiparasitic

Indications: • Adjunct therapy for cancer • Adjunct therapy for protozoal infections • Topical treatment for skin diseases, fungal infections / yeast infections (tampon, douche or pessary), skin cancer, varicose ulcers • Traditional South American uses: • Depurative and tonic • Dysentery, fever, sore throat, wounds, snakebite, intestinal inflammation, inflamed joints, circulatory and degenerative disorders, carcinomas

Contraindications/Cautions:

Napthaquinones anti-platelet of at high doses Contraindicated in patients on anticoagulant because of the potential interaction. Possible abortive and teratrogenic actions in vivo (Naphthoquinone – Lapachol) Male preconception care – short-term administration of lapachol decreased sperm production in Wistar rats

Cautions Several Tabebuia species are currently threatened, vulnerable, or endangered due to logging and expanding agriculture

Dosage: Liquid Extract: 20-50mL of 1:2 L.E per week Decoction simmer 10 g of bark in 600 mL of water for 15 minutes. Strain and drink throughout the day.

 

Calendula

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“Calendula”calendula_officinalis_botanical_drawing

Macer’s 12th-century herbal recommends simply looking at the Calendula plant will improve eyesight, clear the head and encourage cheerfulness. 

In Culpepper’s day, Calendula was taken to ‘strengthen the heart’ and highly regarded for treatment of smallpox and measles. 

Will keep the skin healthy and strong.

Latin binomial: Calendula officinalis

Common name(s): Calendula or Marigold

Family: Asteraceae

Part(s) used: The flowers are primarily used, but the stems, younger leaves, seeds and roots all have medicinal properties. Wood says the the medicinal qualities are in the resin that is found in highest amounts underneath the flower head, and in lesser qualities under the petals, leaves and stems. 

Qualities: Neutral with cooling potential, dry, slightly bitter, sweet, salty, pungent
(Holmes). Indicated in ‘damp’ conditions (of wound or in the tissues).

Constituents:

  • Flavonoids (anti-inflammatory)
  • Resins (OH soluble > vulnerary)
  • Triterpenol alcohols 2-4% (OH soluble > vulnerary)
  • Triterpenoid saponins 2-10% (antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial)
  • Volatile oils (antibacterial, antifungal)
  • Polysaccharides (in vitro immunostimulant)
  • Carotenoids > vulnerary (orange flowers) (yellow > xanthophyll)
  • Polyacetylenes
  • Bitter substances

“Somme use it to make theyr here yelow…not being content with the colour…” – William Turner, 1551

Actions:

  • Antimicrobial
  • ‘Bacteriostatic’ – doesn’t kill bacteria, but contains them, keeping wounds clean to allow healing
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Wound healing
  • Reduces oedema
  • Antioxidant
  • Immunomodulator
  • Lymphatic 
  • Antispasmodic activity
  • Hypoglycaemic activity
  • Hypolipidaemic activity
  • Hepatoprotective (Braun & Cohen, 2010)
  • Astringent, vulnerary, anti-fungal, cholagogue and emmenagogue (Hoffman)

ContactUsS.jpgIndications:

  • Wounds – pulls tissues back together 
  • Burns
  • Swollen lymph – chronic lymph node tenderness.
  • Stagnant lymph – unresolved.
  • Lingering infection – poor immune function due to sluggish lymphatics
  • Low immunity – use petals from flowers in salads, sprinkled on soups etc. during winter to boost lymphatic and, therefore, immune function
  • Gastrointestinal inflammatory disorders (in combination)
  • Gingivitis
  • Thrush / vaginal discharge – ‘issues where the sun don’t shine’.
  • Nappy Rash (Braun & Cohen, 2010)
  • Topical Tx – for inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa, burns, inflammations of the skin, wound healing, eczema, acne, nappy rash, impetigo
  • Eyebath in conjunctivitis (diluted!)
  • Fungal infection e.g. candida and Trichomoniasis infections (low OH diluted 1:20)
  • Varicose veins, haemorrhoids, venous circulatory problems e.g. leg ulcers

Calendula may be used safely where there is inflammation of the skin, whether it’s due to infection or physical damage (Hoffman).

Will benefit in slow healing wounds and skin ulcers.  Ideal for first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds.

Wounds that look ‘like a cat scratch’ – red swollen, tender, puffy – looks infected (Wood). Herbal sunshine that dries up the wound.

It has a reputation for helping delayed menstruation and painful periods. It is a general normaliser of the menstrual process (Hoffman). Pelvic congestion.

Contraindications/cautions: Use with caution in patients with confirmed allergy to herbs or foods from the Compositae family (Braun & Cohen, 2010)

Combinations: For digestive problems it may be used with Marshmallow Root. As an external soothing lotion it can be combined with Slippery Elm. A useful antiseptic lotion will be produced by combining it with Golden Seal and Myrrh (Hoffman).

Dose: 10-30mL of 1:2 LE per week (25% OR 90% OH)

Infusion 3-12 g per day – 1 cup boiling water over 1 tablespoon of petals; steep for 10 minutes

DROP DOSE: 1 to 10 drops (Wood)

OTHER USES:

  • PETAL INFUSION: Take for menopausal problems, period pain, gastritis and for inflammation of the oesophagus
  • PETAL TINCTURE: Take for stagnant liver problems including sluggish digestion, also for menstrual disorders, particularly irregular or painful periods
  • PETAL COMPRESS: Apply pad soaked in infusion to slow healing wounds or varicose ulcers
  • PETAL MOUTHWASH: Use infusion for mouth ulcers and gum disease
  • PETAL CREAM: Apply for any problem involving inflammation or dry skin including scalds and sunburn or sore nipples
  • INFUSED OIL: Use on chilblains, haemorrhoids and broken capillaries. Impetigo / school sores
  • ESSENTIAL OIL PESSARIES: Each should contain 2-5 drops of calendula oil and 2-5 drops of tea tree oil, apply 1-2 times day for vaginal thrush
  • OIL: Add 5-10 drops in bath water for nervous anxiety or depression 

Reference used: Braun, L. & Cohn, M. (2010) Herbs & Natural Supplements; An evidence based guide. Elsevier: NSW

Hoffman, D. (1990). Holistic Herbal. London: Thorsons