Actions and Indications of Medicinal Herbs - Part 2
By Tracey Wilson
This is Part Two, a continuation of the indications and actions of herbal medicines.
Elder Black - Elder leaves used externally are vulnerary and emollient. When used internally, the leaves are purgative, expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoretic. Its flowers prepared as a cold infusion are diuretic, alterative and cooling; as a warm infusion the flowers are diaphoretic and gently stimulating. Its berries are diaphoretic, diuretic, aperients, and when fresh they make good juice and jam. Elder is the reliable home remedy for cold, flu, fever, skin eruptions, sprains, bruises, wounds, hay- fever, sinusitis, tension, constipation, rheumatic discomfort, and so on. Look this plant up in a variety of sources: probably no single herbal tells Elder’s complete story.
Fennel - is carminative, relieving flatulence and colic, and stimulating digestion and appetite. It is very helpful in improving the flavor of other herbs. Combined with Catnip, it makes the best child’s remedy for fever, colic, and general restlessness; it is an anti-spasmodic, having a calming effect on coughs and bronchial disorders, and anti-inflammatory as a compress and eye wash for infected eyes and inflamed eyelids, and galactogogue.
Ginger - is a diffusive stimulant that is warming by increasing peripheral circulation; an emergency remedy whenever emergency stimulation is needed, a master herb for relieving nausea and motion sickness, an anodyne in gastric and intestinal pain, a carminative and anti-spasmodic in the digestive tract; diaphoretic for promoting perspiration for feverish conditions; anti-inflammatory particularly useful in rheumatic conditions that can benefit from heat; anti-microbial; rubefacient; and a reliable emmenagogue.
Goldenseal - is hepatic, cholagogue, a bitter digestive stimulant, and a primarily anti-microbial for acute infection. It is an invaluable tonic stimulant for over-relaxed; profusely secreting mucous membranes having a wide effect on the respiratory, digestive and genitor-urinary systems, and it has anti-catarrhal effect, especially in sinus conditions. It is astringent and emmenagogue.
Gum weed - is a relaxing expectorant, which relaxes the smooth muscles. It is anti-spasmodic and hypotensive, useful for treatment of asthmatic and bronchial conditions, especially when accompanied by rapid heartbeat and nervous response.
Hawthorn - is a heart tonic of the first order that maintains the heart in a healthy condition. It directly affects the cells of the heart muscle, enhancing both activity and nutrition. It is a specific remedy in most cardiac disease and facilitates gentle but long-age-related changes in the entire cardiovascular system, astringent. It is hypotensive and diuretic.
Marshmallow - due to its abundance of mucilage is emollient when used in salves for external use. Used internally, it is soothing demulcent indicated for inflamed and irritated states of mucous membranes. The root is used to treat inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth, gastritis, peptic ulcers, colitis, etc … The leaves are diuretic, expectorant, and anti-inflammatory, and are used to relieve dryness of lungs and a burning or irritated urinary tract; its abundant mucopolysaccharides mildly stimulate the body’s immune function.
Mugwort - is a bitter tonic and foremost digestive stimulant. It is anti-oxidant, which helps in the metabolism of rancid fats and protects the liver from damage from free radicals. It is cholagogue, giving a general stimulating effect on bile flow, helping to remove liver congestion, especially for those who have eaten rancid, oily food. As a nervine tonic, it eases tension, and is anti-depressant, as it aids in depression, particularly when this is due to liver congestion, a virus, and/or a sedentary lifestyle.
Mullein - is expectorant, an extremely beneficial respiratory remedy that tones the mucous membranes, reduces inflammation, and stimulates fluid production, thus facilitating expectoration. It is also demulcent, diuretic, nervine, anti-spasmodic, alterative, astringent, anodyne, vulnerary, and anti-inflammatory. The oil infusion of the fresh flowers is particularly effective for soothing and healing any inflamed surface and easing ear problems (pain). As a fomentation of leaves it is excellent for local application to any inflamed parts.
As with any medication, natural or otherwise, it is always recommended that you check with your doctor before using; especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have a chronic illness.
Actions and Indications of Herbs - Part 3
About The Author:
Tracey Criswell Wilson is an author on
http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.
Many of Tracey's writings that include non-fiction, fiction and poetry can be found on this
interactive site.
Nothing in this essay is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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