Wild Yam

Used to make the original contraceptive pills when synthetic hormone production was not a commercial proposition, Wild Yam contains hormonal substances very similar to progesterone. Diosgenin is the raw material originally used to produce progesterone in laboratories.

This herb also relaxes smooth muscle, which is why another common name given is ‘Colic Root’.  It is specific for twisting, boring and spastic pain in smooth muscle. 

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Botanical Name: Dioscorea villosa

Common name: Wild Yam, Colic Root, Rheumatism Root

Family: Dioscoreaceae

Parts Used: Root and hizome

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Active Constituents:

• Diosgenin (Although diosgenin can be converted to DHEA and other steroid compound in a laboratory, conversion does not occur in the human body)
• Dioscin
• Dioscorin
• Alkaloids
• Phytosterol
• Resin
• Saponin glycosides
• Steroidal saponins
• Tannins
• Phytosterols
• Starch
• Catechin, chlorogenic acid, proanthocyanadin and anthocyanidin (antioxidant)

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Qualities: Cold, sweet, neutral, generally drying, and bitter (Ody)

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 “…wild yams contain diosgenin, a precursor in the synthesis of progesterone, and are the only known available source” – Rudolf Weiss, 1985

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Actions: 

• Spasmolytic – smooth muscle relaxant 
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antirheumatic
• Estrogen modulating (enhance oestradiol binding to oestrogen receptors and induce transcription activity in oestrogen-responsive cells)
• Stomachic
• Promotes bile flow
• Diaphoretic

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Indications:

• GIT spasm – colic pains, diverticulitis, cholecystitis
• Pancreatitis – Wild Yam is a traditional herbal medicine for digestive spasms and inflammation and contains diosgenin which is shown to prevent pancreatic cell death in animal models of acute pancreatitis (Stansbury)
• Can reduce stomach acid while enhancing gastrointestinal motility (Stansbury)
• Bilious colic
• Uterine or ovarian cramping
• Dysmenhorroea
• Nausea of pregnancy / menopausal symptoms
• Rheumatism
• Tonic for uterus and hormones
• PMS cramping
• Specific: BHP – bilious colic, acute RA

Traditionally indicated for twisting, boring and spastic pain in smooth muscle. 

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Contraindications: None known

Cautions: Generally considered safe in pregnancy when consumed in low doses. May be taken during labour

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Dosage: 20-40ml 1:2 per week 6-12 gm per day dry

May take 6 to 12 weeks to show effects

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Combinations: 

• Decoct with Willow Bark for arthritic pains
• Combine with Celery Seed, Angelica, Meadowsweet or Willow Bark for acute stages of RA

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OTHER USES:

• DECOCTION: Used for colic pains associated with IBS or diverticulosis. Can also be used for period pain or during labour.
• TINCTURE: Take 5-10 drops as required for labour or post partum pains.

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References & Links to Articles:

Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley

University of Maryland Medical Centre – Wild Yam 

Lima et al. Evaluation of Dioscorea villosa

Hops

Used in brewing in Europe since the 11 century, hops were never included in the traditional English ale. Initially they were thought to encourage the melancholic humour, and too many hops in German-style beers was, as Gerard records – “ill for the head”. 

Hops were believed, however, to purge excess choleric and sanguine humours, and beer was regarded as a more ‘physicall drinke to keep the body in health’ than English ale.  Hops contain a high proportion of oestrogen and, as a result, too much beer can lead to a loss of libido in men.

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Botanical Name: Humulus lupulus

Common name: Hops

Family: Cannabaceae

Parts Used: Strobile (female flower) – male flowers don’t yield the active lupulone (bitter principle)

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Active Constituents:

• Resinous bitter principles 15-30% (mostly alpha-bitter and beta- bitter acids)
• Volatile oils 0.3–1.0%.
• Polyphenolic condensed tannins 2–4%. Xanthohumol (estrogenic) freshly harvested (degrades rapidly)
• Flavonoids – Astragalin, kaempferol, quercetin, quercitrin and rutin
• Chalcones

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Qualities: 

Bitter, cooling, grounding, dry & slightly pungent

The longer the hops flowers are dried, the more Valerianic acid there is (Hall).

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Person-Picture:

The person who could do with Hops is those who are the ‘planners’. They have trouble balancing their lives and ‘switching off’. They tend to lay awake at night, when they should be sleeping, tense with work still on their minds. 

There is often irritability – due to thinking about all that they DIDN’T get done in a day. 

These people like to plan out everything – even conversations that haven’t happened yet – they will have ‘imaginary conversations’ in their minds.

“Pre-worriers”, “Pre-planners”, “Co-ordinators of projects”. There is a tendency to pre-live their stressors before they happen. Causes constant irritability & criticism. Muscular tension. Fluid retention… depression…. ADRENAL FATIGUE & NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

May lean on uppers (stimulants like coffee/sugar) to perk them up and downers to get them to sleep.

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“Hops… preserves the drink, but repays the pleasure in tormenting diseases and a shorter life” – John Evelyn, 1670

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Actions: 

• Hypnotic
• Mild sedative
• Spasmolytic
• Anodyne
• Anxiolytic – modern research has found that Hops anxiolytic activity may be due to one of the substances responsible for its bitter flavour, namely ß-acids, which are a mixture of homologues and analogues of lupulone. In vivo studies these ß-acids affect GABA neurotransmission in experimental models
• Bitter tonic
• Appetite stimulant
• Nervine
• Estrogenic?
• Anaphrodisiac
• Diuretic
• Nervous system restorative tonic
• Galactagogue
• BALANCER – helps ease better to and from active — to calm states. Relaxes muscles.

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Indications: 

Nervous System:

• Insomnia (+ valerian)  – lying awake @ bedtime, tense with work still on mind
• Sleep latency (time to fall asleep) + quality
• Anxiety / restlessness
• Nervous tension
• Muscle aches and pains – increased muscular tension/muscle fatigue – Hoffman noted that Hops will ‘ease tension and anxiety, and may be used where this tension leads to restlessness, headache and possibly indigestion’.
• Those headed for a ‘Nervous breakdown’
• Fluid retention
• Irritability — not getting enough done in a day
• Reliance on adrenal crutches — alcohol, sugar, smoking, coffee etc.

Other:

• Neuralgia / headache
• GIT – Dyspepsia / nervous dyspepsia
• IBS
• Menopausal Sx – esp. Insomnia
• Hot flushes
• Sexual problems – incl- premature ejaculation

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Contraindications: 

Traditionally –

• Depression
• Oestrogen dependent tumours

Cautions: 

• Respiratory allergy caused by the handling of hop cones (case reported)
• Caution in pregnancy – possible hormonal effects
• Caution with antioestrogenic drugs
• Additive effects possible with sedatives

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Dosage: 

Liquid Extract: 10-20 1:2 / week
Dried Herb Equivalent: 0.5 – 1.5g / day dried herb (infusion)

Bath: 4 g hops in a concentrated extract
Hops pillow – Should be replaced every few months because old dried strobes can be stimulating. Place hops pillow underneath actual pillow.

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Combinations:

• Insomnia – Valerian, passionflower
• Menopause – cimicifuga, dioscorea, hypericum, zizyphus
• Insomnia when trouble getting BACK to sleep due to busy mind – Combine with vervain
• Vervain, skullcap, valerian

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OTHER USES:

• COMPRESS:Use a pad soaked in infusion or dilute tincture on varicose ulcers
• WASH: Use infusion of fresh or freshly dried hops for chronic ulcers, skin eruptions and wounds

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References & Links to Articles:

Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley

Fennel

Romans believed that

serpents sucked the juice of fennel to improve their eyesight,

and Pilny recommended it for

‘dimness of human vision’.

In medieval times, chewing fennel seeds was found to stop gastric rumbles during church sermons.

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Latin binomial: Foeniculum vulgare

 

Common Name(s): Fennel

Family: Umbelliferaae

Part(s) used: Seeds (Root can be used but not as effective)

Qualities: Warming, dry, pungent & sweet (Ody)

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 Constituents:

Up to 6% volatile oil which includes anethole and fenchone. Fatty oil – 10%

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“…both the seeds, leaves and root of our Garden Fennel are much used in drinks and broths for those that are grown fat…” – William Coles, 1650

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Actions:

• Carminative
• Aromatic
• Anti-spasmodic
• Stimulant
• Galactagogue
• Rubefacient
• Expectorant (Hoffman)
• Appetite stimulating
• Estrogen modulating
• Anti-microbial (Bone)
• Circulatory Stimulant (Ody)
• Anti-inflammatory (Ody)
• Diuretic (Ody)

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Indications:

• Flatulent colic – esp. in infants.
• Flatulent dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (Bone).
• Ease gripping of the abdomen
• Increasing reduced appetite and suppression of food cravings (Bone).
• Wheezing, shortness of breath and chronic cough.
• Calming effect on bronchitis (Hoffman).
• Amenorrhea and supressed lactation (Bone).
• Will increase the flow of milk in nursing mothers (Hoffman).
• LACTATION — help with COLIC IN BABIES
• Used topically in treatment of conjunctivitis and blepharitis – also as a gargle for pharyngitis.
• SAFE IN LACTATION
• Safe for Children – stomach aches 

Traditionally used in TCM for abdominal pain with anorexia, vomiting and diarrhoea, or dysmenorrhea with cold sensation (Bone).

• Externally, the oil eases muscular and rheumatic pains (Hoffman).
• Possible benefit for obesity (Bone)

May have a slight oestrogen property — helps breastmilk and regulate reproductive cycles. 

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Contraindications/ Cautions:

• Rare allergic reaction may ocur in this plant family (Bone).
• Fennel is a uterine stimulant – avoid high doses during pregnancy – small amounts in cooking/tea are safe
• Avoid large doses in oestrogen dominant conditions

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Dosage:

INFUSION: Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons of slightly crushed seeds and leave to infuse for 10 minutes. This should be drunk 3 times a day. The ease flatulence – take a cup half an hour before meals (Hoffman).

3-6ml of 1:2 liquid extract per day – 20-40ml per week (Bone).

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Combinations:

• Dyspepsia treatment in combonation with wormwood, caraway and peppermint.
• Bloating, flatulence and chronic digestive problems with caraway, peppermint and gentian.
• Infantile colic with lemon balm, chamomile, vervain and licorice.
• Chronic non-specific colitis – with dandelion root, st. Johns wort, lemon balm and calendula.
• Ody suggests combination with laxatives such as rhubarb root or senna to prevent griping
• Mouthwash of infusion can be used for gum disorders, loose teeth, laryngitis or sore throats (Ody)
• Make a chest rub by dissolving 25 drops each of Thyme oil, Eucalyptus oil and Fennel oil into 25ml of Almond oil

 

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References:

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

Bone, K. (2003). A Clinical Guide to Blending Liquid Herbs: Herbal Formulations for the Individual Patient. St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

Ody, Penelope (1998). The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal. Milan: Dorling Kindersley