Holy Basil

Holy Basil is known as ‘Queen of Herbs’ in India and has been used medicinally and grown there for over 3,000 years. Holy Basil is a powerful panacea and herbal medicine that is often employed to promote longevity due to its action on mood and to encourage energy and vitality. Ayurvedic medicine considers Holy Basil an ‘elixir of life’. It is a tonic for the body, mind and spirit.

Common Name: Holy Basil, Tulsi

Latin Binomial: Ocimum tenuiflorum

Part Used: Leaf

Qualities:

A herbal medicine for those who feel helpless and without hope, especially due to illness or chronic conditions.

Constituents:

• Ocimumoside A and B (antioxidant and adaptogenic activity plus central monoamine and HPA-axis modulation)
• Volitile oils
• Phenolics
• Flavonoids
• Neolignans
• Terpenoids
• Fatty acid derivatives

Seeds contain mucilage, pollysaccharides, and beta-sitosterol

Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Anxiolytic
• Antidepressant
• Antioxidant
• Anticancer
• Chemopreventative
• Antifungal
• Antidiabetic
• Antimicrobial
• Cardioprotective
• Hepatoprotective
• Hypolipidaemia
• Immunomodulator
• Neuroprotective

Indications:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood disorders
• Stress and fatigue
• Immune dysfunction associated with stress or chronic illness
• Sleep issues
• Poor memory and cognition
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Can increase mental clarity and improve cognitive function
• Convalescence
• Enhances mood and motivation – may help shift perspective towards wellness and restore hope during illness
• Metabolic conditions – e.g. diabetes, insulin resistance, diabetes
• Fungal infections
• Cancer prevention
• Cardiac disease
• Hepatic disease/steatosis
• Peptic Ulcers
• Cancer adjunct to radiotherapy

Traditionally: Used for many ailments (as a panacea) such as common colds, bronchitis, fever, headaches, fatigue, inflammation, skin conditions, heart disease, poisoning and malaria.

Contraindications:

Not recommended to use Holy Basil in either pregnancy or lactation due to a lack of evidence regarding its safety in these areas.

Holy Basil may act as a male contraceptive in large doses.

Interactions:

Caution with coprescription with other medications that are metabolised via cytochrome P450 enzymes as Holy Basil has been shown (in vitro) to modulate these enzymes (theoretical).

Dosage:

1:2 LE 20 – 50ml weekly

TREATMENT TIME FRAMES: It may take two months to see full effect when using as adaptogen for stress, anxiety or depression

Combinations:

Combine with Horopito for fungal infections

References & Articles:

tulsi-a-herb-for-all-reasonsDownload

2018-a-review-on-phytochemical-and-pharmacological-properties-of-holy-basilDownload

Tienchi Ginseng

An adaptogen with cardioprotective and antihaemorrhagic properties. Has an affinity for the circulatory system.

Botanical Name: Panax notoginseng (Panax pseudoginseng)

Common name: Tienchi Ginseng, Yunnan Baiyao

Family: Araliaceae

Parts Used: Root

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Active Constituents: 

• Triterpene saponins (ginsenosides and notoginsenoside R1)
• Amino acids and fatty acids
• Polysaccharides
• Phytosterols
• Flavonoids
• Dencichine

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Qualities: Warm in nature; sweet and slightly bitter in taste

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Actions: 

• Adaptogen (mildly stimulating)
• Antiarrythmic
• Antihaemorrhagic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Blood adaptogen / haemostatic (stops bleeding and transforms blood stasis; invigorates the blood)
• Cardioprotective – microcirculation
• Hypocholesterolaemic / hypolipidaemic
• Microbiome modulator
• Metabolic enhancing (improves exercise endurance; may inhibit glycogen utilisation during exercise enabling muscles to preferentially burn fat for energy; this activity would allow the muscle to sustain longer periods of activity with less lactic acid build-up)
• Styptic

Traditionally used as a haemostatic medicine to control both internal and external bleeding, reduce swelling and pain, as well as to disperse blood clots, eliminate blood stasis and promote blood circulation.

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Indications:

• Haemoptysis
• Haematuria
• Angina pectoris
• Arrythmias (i.e. atrial fibrillation)
• Blood clots / blood stasis
• Myocardial ischaemia
• Hypercholesterolaemia
• Haemorrhage, hematemesis, melena, abnormal uterine bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding
• Injury from trauma, especially with haematomoa, swelling and bruising
• Metrorrhagia / menorrhagia (prescribed acutely, i.e. liquid extract as a simple taken at the onset of the period in higher doses, e.g. 5ml three times daily then reducing the dose as bleeding normalises; if heavy bleeding is due to a fibroid or endometriosis or there is dysfunctional uterine bleeding, Tienchi could be prescribed throughout the cycle; in all cases of heavy bleleding, the underlying cause must be addressed)
• Metabolic diseases – e.g. diabetes, obesity

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Contraindications: Pregnancy, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine – may adversely affect the foetus (Ody)

Cautions: Oestrogen-dependent cancers (Panax spp. has some phytoestrogenic activity)

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Dosage: 

1:2 FE 3.5ml–8.5ml per day or 25-60ml per week (use higher doses may be required for trauma and severe haemorrhage)

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Combinations:

• Combine powder form of root (1-2g doses) with slippery elm for the pain of gastric ulceration (Ody)
• Arrythmia with hypertension – combine with Kudzu, Hawthorn Berries, Motherwort, Dan Shen, Corydalis, Mistletoe, Dong Quai, Japanese Knotweed, Withania, or Green Tea

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POINTS OF NOTE:

1. An antihaemorrhagic indicated in haemoptysis and haematuria as well as melena and abnormal uterine bleeding
2. Anti inflammatory and a styptic, useful in recovery from trauma especially with swelling and bruising
3. Cardioprotective, indicated in angina pectoris
4. Hypocholesterolaemic, indicated in high cholesterol
5. Contraindicated in pregnancy
6. The main constituents are the saponins (ginsenosides and notoginsenosides)

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References & Links to Articles:

Antioxidative effects of Panax notoginseng saponins in brain cells

Antidepressant effects of Panax notoginseng

Dan Shen

Botanical Name: Salvia miltiorrhiza

Common name: Dan shen, Red Sage, Chinese Sage

Family: Laminaceae

Parts Used: Root

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Active Constituents: 

• Diterpene dikotones
• Tanshinones

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Qualities:

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Actions: 

• Anticoagulant
• Cardioprotective
• Hypotensive
• Antiplatelet
• Fibrinolytic, antifibrotic
• Hepatoprotective
• Vulnerary
• Antibacterial

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Indications: 

• Ischemic heart disease
• Hypertension
• Palpitations
• Insomnia
• Buerger’s disease
• Acute and chronic liver disease
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Promotion of healing of fractures
• Sclerodema
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Acne
• Skin disorders
• Acute pain that is difficult to deal with (Buhner) – dose every hour
• Provides a number of vascular benefits including microcirculation support for inflamed organs (e.g. pancreatitis)

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Contraindications: Pregnancy & Lactation

Cautions: 

• Bleeding tendencies
• Anticoagulents and antiplatelet Mdx

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Dosage: 

1:2FE 4-12 ml per day or 25-50ml per week

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Combinations:

Combine with St. Mary’s Thistle – to reduce spleen/liver inflammation and reduce elevated liver enzymes

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POINTS OF NOTE:

1. Cardioprotective and indicated in Ischemic heart disease, hypertension and palpitations
2. Anticoagulant, antiplatelet, fibrinolytic, antifibrotic it may potentiate the effects of warfarin and should be used with caution with anticoagulents and antiplatelet medicines
3. Hepatoprotective, indicated in acute and chronic liver disease
4. Vulnerary and antibacterial, indicated in acne and skin disorders including scleroderma
5. A moderate dose herb – 20-50ml per week

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References & Links to Articles:

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Andrographis

 

King of the Bitters.

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Latin Botanical: Andrographis paniculata

Common Name(s): Andrographis

Family: Acanthaceae

Part(s) Used: Aerial parts

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Qualities: Bitter, cold, dry (very cold – pair with ginger/cinnamon)

Ayurveda – Bitter, cold, dry

TCM – clear heat from blood and detoxify fire poison (Holmes) Hot (inflammatory)/Damp (toxic) combination.

Very cold – can maybe combine with a diaphoretic tea to counteract/balance cooling property

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Constituents:

• Bitter diterpenoid lactones (andrographolides) – ‘Danger Receptors’
• Diterpene glucosides
• Diterpene dimers
• Flavonoids

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Actions: 

• Bitter tonic/Digestive
• Immune enhancing (Traditionally linked with infections of respiratory system)
• Anti-pyretic
• Choleretic/Cholagogue – increases bile flow & gallbladder function
• Hepatoprotective – liver tonic
• Diaphoretic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Anthelmintic (esp. pin worm)
• Adaptogen (Thomsen)
• Antiplatelet
• Cardioprotective (Thomsen)
• Febrifuge

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Indications:

• URTIs and the common cold + fever (acute)
• Immune Deficiency – support immune system in both acute and chronic bacterial infections (especially topically – e.g. acne and cellulitis combined with gotu kola and echinacea)
• Sore Throat
• Pneumonia and URTI
• Infections of Skin
• Acute immunological herb – can be quick working
• Enteric infections
• Infective hepatitis (acute forms especially)
• Liver congestion – intolerance to fats, poor bowel motions, poor bile flow
• Sluggish Liver – as above
• Indigestion
• Fatigue
• Infestation with intestinal worms – esp. pin worms – ACUTE DOSES
• Gastroenteritis – with a liver component
• Ulcerative colitis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Flatulence
• Diarrhoea
• Preventing UTI’s (following shock wave lithotripsy)
• Loss of appetite
• Dyspepsia/ Digestive weakness/ GIT Infestation
• Recovery from convalescence
• Diabetes type 2 (Thomsen)
• Mould illness – help brain-fo
• Improve cognition – stimulates neurogenesis in hippocampus – important for long & short term memory
• Troubles with fat digestion

NOTE: Use for Borrelia, Babesia & Bartonella infections. Good for Sx of brain fog in these chronic infections. 

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Contraindications/Cautions: 

• Pregnancy – Traditionally not used – Anti-fertility effects in female mice
• Preconception – Oral leaf powder in male rats > anti-fertility effect & biochemical changes in testes – Not duplicated in standardised ethanolic dried leaf extract
• Pregnancy was prevented with andrographis powder in female mice (Bone)
• Antiplatelet drugs – Theoretical additive antiplatelet – observe the patient.
• Hypoglycaemic agents –Additive effects are theoretically possible  (has hypoglycaemic activity comparable to metformin in vivo)  – monitor blood glucose, interaction may be beneficial.
• Immunosuppressants – Reduced drug activity is theoretically possible (immunostimulant activity has been demonstrated in vivo) – use caution in the immunosuppressed.
• Sensitive digestion – high doses can cause gastric discomfort, anorexia and vomiting. Beware in reflux cases
• FEW CASES OF EXTREME ALLERGIC REACTION – Due to andrographalide (tablet). Warn patient.

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Dosage:

Liquid Extract 20-40mL of 1:2 LE per week

4.0 – 6.0 grams day 

Combination: Aromatics or warming herbs – such as Ginger or cinnamon

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References & Links to Articles:

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