Rant continues below...
God dammit. Ephedra sinica is one of the most valuable decongestants at my disposal. Yes, it has stimulating properties which cause bone-heads (companies and individuals alike) to abuse the plant. But dammit, don't spoil it for the rest of us.
This entire article underlines the misconceptions about this plant. At no time to the refer to the plants proper usage, and instead speak about the herb as if it were only valable to get high off or cause weight loss. Here are a few choice excerpts:
...blamed on the amphetamine-like stimulant...
Ephedra is linked to heart attacks and strokes, even when used by outwardly healthy people at recommended doses...
Bullshit. If you've got a heart condition (even though you may appear "outwardly normal", don't take Ma huang.
The supplement industry's Council for Responsible Nutrition said it didn't oppose a ban, noting that very few companies still make the stimulant its members who once did no longer do so.
Make the stimulant? God dammit. You can't "make" Ma huang, it grows. And, god dammit again, stop referring to it as a stimulant! That's the whole problem!
NOTE: There is another species of Ephedra which is native to this continent, Epehdra nevadensis or viridis or torreyana. Also called Mormon Tea, this native is also an excellent decongestant, though much milder than the asian variety Ma huang. This is not covered by the ban (bastards), though it is difficult to procure. I wonder if that will change now that Ma huang is banned. No, probably not. I can't see anyone drinking enough Morman Tea to get a high. Good.
Oddly enough, I've been asked to co-author a book. Yes, I realize I've been talking about writing a book since I started this blog, but it looks like it's happening this time... and from an odd source. I've been tasked to write a chapter on herbalism for a (you're going to love this) book on how to write fantasy. What, pray tell, is going on here?
I suppose I'm probably qualified for the job. I've been studying herbalism since 1997 and acting as an herbal therapist since 2002. In addition, I also co-host a fantasy and science fiction radio show, so...
Why not? I'm getting started tonight!
I met a new plant ally a few days ago and have finished up the research. It's Garrya wrightii, commonly known as Wright's Silk Tassel, and is useful for diarrhea and menstrual cramping (among other things).
In an effort to both escape the xmas crowd and enjoy the desert in the winter, we took a hike recently near the house. While I wasn't specifically looking for medicinal plants, I met a new ally.
The sonoran desert is abundant with botanical life, and winter is an excellent time to find those that are "outshone" by their more colorful neighbors during the spring. Our walk was dominated by two plants which I value highly; <.i>Arctosaphylos manzanita (Manzanita) and Ceanothus greggii (Red Root). Of the two, Manzanita is unmistakable for another by any herbalist familiar with the southwestern desert flora. Ceanothus, on the other hand, is often overlooked unless you're looking at a large specimen.
So I find myself drawn to this Manzanita with purple berries. Wait! In winter? Manzanita fruits much earlier in the season, and they are more red than purple. In addition, the two other Manzanita plants right along side are showing no fruit at all. So I pop a berry in my mouth... and reality finally comes rushing in on me. This is not Manzanita! The wood is not red, the leaves not leathery... how did I make this mistake?
I puzzled over that for a while, and quickly became aware of the how many more plants like this I started noticing. It was everywhere! I've learned to trust my instincts, and when something that weird happens, it's usually for a reason. So to my trusty field guide to find out what this is and why it's calling me so hard. A quick search (difficult to do when the plant is not in bloom) suggested it might be Wright's Silk Tassel, which was confirmed this morning by Henriette with her great image collection.
Yes, the plant does have medicinal properties... some of which I am currently in need of. So as soon as this posts, I'm off for a bit of collecting! Here's why:
PROPERTIES - (source)
Anti-Spasmodic
Anticholinergic (parasympathetic inhibitor)
INDICATIONS (source)
Diarrhea, for tenesmus.
Chronic diarrhea with hyperactive cholinergic functions.
Obstinate hiccoughs.
Nausea, general antispasmodic.
Shigellosis, for cramps.
Dysmenorrhea, in general.
Troubling news out of Nigeria that has nothing to do with money laundering:
A traditional doctor in central Nigeria has been shot dead... testing the potency of an anti-bullet charm the herbalist had prepared...Let me go on record saying what a bad idea this was to begin with.To confirm its efficacy, the herbalist tied the charm around his neck and insisted that [the client] should fire a gun at him. The experiment proved fatal for the herbalist and his skull was shattered.
If I were forumlating a preventative formula to avoid being gunshot, it would consist of the following
- 2 parts Notgetting shot
1 part Notpissongoffthosewhohave guns
A pinch of Common sense
Mix together and apply liberally where ever you travel.
From a fellow transplanted Arizonian, Muse, who I simply do not read enough:Animals take their cue from the weather, and enjoy the lull of the winter. During the summer, the desert is a study in brute survival, for every creature is the enemy of the others, and all must compete to live another long, hot night. Everything has talons and teeth, especially the plants. To live a full summer in the desert means to either be incredibly resilient or to be stronger than your enemy. During the winter, clumsy javelinas feel bold enough to leave their tracks and scat in common areas, and mice invade homes because most of the threatening lizards are hibernating. Summer lives from the blood of wildlife, whereas winter is a calmer time.
This is truly groundshaking. Kinda like when a cigarette exec finally admits smoking causes cancer, but on a more fundamental level.
A senior executive with Britain's biggest drugs company has admitted that most prescription medicines do not work on most people who take them.Now if that doesn't pique your interest, I'm not sure what does. Allen Roses, worldwide vice-president of genetics at GlaxoSmithKline, goes on to say:
"The vast majority of drugs - more than 90 per cent - only work in 30 or 50 per cent of the people," Dr Roses said. "I wouldn't say that most drugs don't work. I would say that most drugs work in 30 to 50 per cent of people. Drugs out there on the market work, but they don't work in everybody."But don't take my word for it. Read the whole story on the UK's Independent. Thanks to Bernie for the link.
The Humorous Herbalist (aka Laurel Dewey) is writing about the benefits of Allspice (Pimento officinalis). You can read the entire article on The Post Independent or in my archives. For the temporally challenged, here's the highlights:
- A local and very temporary anesthetic; either as a tea or in EO (essential oil) form. Quite handy for "one-sided" neuralgia and headaches.
One-half to one full teaspoon of the dried powdered herb (depending upon your taste buds) to eight ounces of water. Cover the herb and steep for 10 minutes, strain the powder and drink up to two cups a day.
Always buy allspice in its whole form (i.e., the berries in the shell) and then grind or powder them prior to preparing the tea. This ensures the best flavor and the most medicinal punch.
25 to 30 drops of allspice essential oil into one ounce of the base oil. Shake the bottle gently and liberally apply the oil to aching muscles and/or joints.
Herbalist Hanna Kroeger wrote in her book “Spices to the Rescue,” that allspice was “a balm to the liver” and was a good tea to drink if “couples are inharmonious” or “if you are inharmonious with yourself.”
Since the liver, in holistic medicine, relates to where you hold your anger, there’s a sort of logic to this theory. Once your liver is calmed down, you might be less likely to pitch a fit. Thus, you could be more harmonious with yourself and/or your partner. If this is true, just think about how many marriages this herb could save.
All contents © Copyright 2003 postindependent.com
Glenwood Springs Post Independent - 2014 Grand Avenue - Glenwood Springs, CO 81601-4162
All’s well with allspice
By Laurel Dewey - December 5, 2003
I believe that allspice actually got its name due to the fact that somebody ate the powdered fruit and shell one day and said, “Hey you know what? This stuff tastes like a combination of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and juniper berries. It’s like all spices in one!” And thus, a common name for Pimento and Pimenta officinalis was born.
Okay, that might be herbal conjecture, but most people who use allspice — either in the herbal powder form or the concentrated essential oil — comment that it smells like a hybrid clove. This is interesting, since allspice has some medicinal uses that are similar to clove.
One of those uses is as a local and very temporary anesthetic. Like clove, allspice has large amounts of the volatile oil compound called eugenol. This helps to give allspice its anesthetic properties as well as its antiseptic qualities.
I don’t want to insinuate that you can drink a cup of allspice tea or rub the essential oil on your body and then magically have heart surgery and feel nothing. What I am saying is that allspice has had the ability to temporarily give symptomatic numbing relief from the pain associated with rheumatism and neuralgia.
In tea form, allspice is highly recommended for what is called “one sided pain.” In other words, if you have neuralgia and it tends to only affect one side of your body, give this tasty tea a try.
Allspice is also a good brew to consider if you suffer from one sided headaches. The herb to water ratio would be one-half to one full teaspoon of the dried powdered herb (depending upon your taste buds) to eight ounces of water. Cover the herb and steep for 10 minutes, strain the powder and drink up to two cups a day.
Allspice essential oil makes a good analgesic muscular rub that can relieve minor aches and pains. I have used it undiluted — which, by the way, is never recommended in books — and had no adverse effects. It could be a different story, though, for those who have fair or sensitive skin. If you fall into that category, dilute the essential oil with a light, absorbent base oil such as apricot kernel oil or grapeseed oil. An effective blend would be 25 to 30 drops of allspice essential oil into one ounce of the base oil. Shake the bottle gently and liberally apply the oil to aching muscles and/or joints. If you experience any type of uncomfortable burning sensations or itching, discontinue use of the oil blend.
Perhaps the most well known way to enjoy allspice is as an after dinner tea for gas or indigestion. This Jamaican berry has a positively wonderful warming ability — much like other “digestive” herbs such as cardamom and cinnamon. It is that warming ability that gives allspice its calming and soothing properties.
What I love about allspice is that you can drink the tea freely. So many herbal brews need to have their dosage curbed for one reason or another. But not allspice. Basically, you can drink this stuff until you are swimming in it up to your earlobes.
To make the tea for gas and indigestion, pour eight ounces of boiling distilled water over one-half to one teaspoon of the powdered berry. Stir thoroughly and cover, letting it steep for 10 to 20 minutes. The longer it steeps, the spicier it will be. Strain the powder and sip slowly, the hotter the better.
Always buy allspice in its whole form (i.e., the berries in the shell) and then grind or powder them prior to preparing the tea. This ensures the best flavor and the most medicinal punch.
One final tidbit of interest: Herbalist Hanna Kroeger wrote in her book “Spices to the Rescue,” that allspice was “a balm to the liver” and was a good tea to drink if “couples are inharmonious” or “if you are inharmonious with yourself.”
Since the liver, in holistic medicine, relates to where you hold your anger, there’s a sort of logic to this theory. Once your liver is calmed down, you might be less likely to pitch a fit. Thus, you could be more harmonious with yourself and/or your partner. If this is true, just think about how many marriages this herb could save.
E-mail your questions to The Humorous Herbalist at writer8@sopris.net.
This column is not meant to take the place of your physician, nor is it intended to treat, diagnose or prescribe. Pregnant or nursing women should consult their doctor before using herbal therapy.
I've recently discovered a new holistic health (and other interests) blog called The Careless Hand. Today Bernie is taking aim at prescriptions medications where the side effects are serious but often ignored.
The article in Consumer's Reports on Larium reminded of an earlier article I read in the Baltimore Sun about accutane, the acne medicine. Accutane causes a host of side effects, the worst of which is suicidal depression. Imagine a doctor telling their teenage patients the truth about accutane. "It will clear up your face, but plunge you into a depression so deep, you'll long for death." Sort of gives new meaning to the phrase "leave a good looking corpse."Kinda makes you wonder, huh? Bernie goes on to shed some light on the flawed recent Echinacea study:
You probably heard of the study that showed Echinacea is ineffective in relieving the colds of children. The story is based on a press release put out by JAMA, which published the study. So Echinacea is worthless for colds, right? Not so fast. The study showed some positive results that were left out of the press release. The Natural Products Information Center reports while Echinacea did not reduce the severity of respiratory infections, it did reduce the number of infections.Good information and great writing. Thanks for contributing, Bernie!
My friend Daryl The Holistic Health Phreak is blogging about the difficulties in "testing" holistic medicine. It's often times difficult to arrange for double-blind trials, for some very practical reasons: In the holistic health world, it is sometimes not even possible to do a scientific study to judge a certain technique. How can you have a "placebo massage?" How can you have a pretend aroma in aromatherapy? You could create a fake rose smell, but then that smell might cause a whole chain reaction that you weren't anticipating.
You see how this could be a problem?
One of the greatest things about networking with literally hundreds of other practicing herbalists is discovering new uses for old plant friends. That happened to me today with Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) in a direction I'd never considered.
I know the plant to be valuable in conditions of the lungs, but useful in stopping gran mal seizures? A fellow herbalist recants a great tale of personal use, and my research into the tomes proves it out. Read on...
The Eclectics used Lobelia extensively to treat a variety of ailments. Looking for the connection with seizures, I noticed a commonality across the texts. All authors noted the ability of the plant to bring about relaxation. I use it for this today, specifically in the lungs of suffers of asthma. According to Colby's Guide to Health:
Lobelia is the most powerful, certain, and harmless relaxant that has ever been discovered; and as relaxation is an important indication in the cure of the majority of the various forms of disease...Petersen mentions it as well in his Materia Medica, citing it's effectiveness in relieving angina and asthma, a "baby soother" and for convulsions.
Southwestern herbalist icon Michael Moore uses Lobeila as a "parasympathomimetic antispasmodic", which is a complex (and classic Michaelian) way of saying it stops spasms of the involuntary nervous pathways. Bingo. There is my answer, staring me in the face. The plant works less on the constricted passageways of the heart and lungs and more at the nervous system responsible for the actions of these two systems. It's a small step to equate that same antispasmodic qualities to a nervous system firing out of control, ie a gran mal seizure.
In case you're interested, here's how my fellow herbalist described the situation where she used Lobelia:
I got a phone call about 2:30 pm EST today that Charlie (my son) was experiencing a significant seizure on Main St., in front of our town's little medical center. I grabbed the toolkit, hopped into the wagon and went.And pass it on I shall...He was still fully involved when I arrived, two syringes of pharmaceutical diazepam in one hand and a bottle of Lobelia inflata extract in my pocket. I administered Lobelia inflata extract about 5 drops sublingually plus two 1/2 droppersful topically at C-1 and C-2 (The Atlas and the Axis or the top two cervical vertebrae where the skull connects to the neck) were immediately massaged in.
Charlie had been in full seizure mode for about ten minutes at that time and significantly discolored. At least he had the emotional support of the
Physician's Assistant, police and locals who know him. No one touched him, not even to support his head.The effect of the Lobelia inflata extract was so quick that I choose to wait to administer the diazepam pharmaceutical rectally. And, I continued to
wait for the dreaded following seizure to commence, common with Charlie given the length and severity of the first. I was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak, when the ambulance arrived.By this time, about 20 minutes after onset, his color had improved to near normal and his blood pressure upper number was 110. The new and improved sphygnomanometer the ambulance carries only measures the upper level, they informed me today. Curious, n'est pas?
Since someone saw Charlie slump and slide to the ground, we knew he did not hit his head on the concrete. There were no other signs of distress or
damage.
So, we placed Charlie in the backseat of the wagon. We then drove home and sat in the warm car in the driveway for another 75 minutes waiting for him to regain some limb use and consciousness so I could haul him into the house. Dealing with almost inert 200 lbs. is a challenge.No need to go to ER, no need for diazepam. Far less trauma for the kid.
When he could swallow, I gave him 250 mg Mg, B-100 complex and something else to increase the levels of those nutrients decimated by the brain storm. He will get an additional 3 grams of fish oil later to further support the nutritional needs of an impacted brain. Also some milk thistle, grapeseed
extract and Ginkgo biloba.It now takes well over 24 hours and as much of 72 hours for Charlie to
recover. During this post ictal stage, he does get increased nutritional support, primarily via diet.
Thank you, Ma Nature, for your gift of Lobelia inflata and it's effectiveness in stopping gran mal seizures in people with histories of status epilepticus. What a fine grand dame you are and I am forever in your service.If you think the above will help someone else, please pass it on.