Newsletter Article

Buchu, a fragrant evergreen shrub native to South Africa (particularly the Western Cape Province)belonging to the genusAgathosma, has a long history ofuse in traditional Khoisan medicine.The Khoisan people (indigenous people of the western region of South Africa) have utilised buchu forcenturies for various medicinal and spiritual purposes, including dance rituals, anointment, andbeautification.The traditional use of buchu encompasses the treatment of kidney and urinary tractinfections, cold, stomach ailments, rheumatism, gout and fever.

Externally, buchu was used as an antiseptic wash for wounds and as a compress for swelling, bruising,and sprains.A. betulinawas commonly consumed as an aqueous infusion (sometimes sweetened) or atincture in brandy. Vinegar infusions were used externally for antiseptic washes and embrocations.

Early European settlers in South Africa adopted the use of buchu andits use spread to Europe and theUnited States.Buchu was included in compendia until the 20th century for its diuretic effects and urinarytract applications but fell out of favour due to the emergence of antibiotics and synthetic diuretics. The Eclectics, a 19th-century medical school of thought in the US, considered buchu an aromatic stimulantand tonic for poor appetite, flatulence, and nausea.

References

HEC Monograph

A 2024 Italian review article focused on the therapeutic effect of lion’s mane extract in the treatment of conditions of the lower urinary tract in which intestinal inflammation may play a role. The researchers hypothesised that lion’s mane, in combination with conventional drugs or other supplements, might be considered a therapy to be used in chronic inflammatory conditions of the lower urinary tract, including chronic prostatitis, to improve inflammation, decrease symptoms and potentially as a prostate cancer prophylactic agent.

The researchers reviewed the available evidence on “pelvic cross-organ sensitisation” (where a problem in one area can lead to a problem in another) as a possible mechanism through which intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis may affect the lower urinary tract. They also reviewed the clinical and experimental evidence supporting the role of lion’s mane extract as an anti-inflammatory agent highlighting the role of several mechanisms which might make this mushroom suitable for the management of “difficult to treat” lower urinary tract disorders.

The researchers postulated that lion’s mane may be a potential therapy in inflammatory conditions involving the gut, such as inflammatory bowel disease (i.e. ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) because of its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. They said another mechanism where lion’s mane may promote beneficial effects in the gut could be through the modulation of gut microbiota (as a prebiotic), which seems to play a crucial role in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease, as well as in the treatment of several gastrointestinal pathological conditions. In addition, because of lion’s mane immunomodulatory action and its ability to modulate neurotransmission, the researchers hypothesised that lion’s mane might be able to improve symptoms and inflammation in the lower urinary tract, mainly in those cases arising from an altered gut microbiota, intestinal inflammation and/or increased intestinal permeability. 

References

Romano L, Napolitano L, Crocetto F, Sciorio C, Priadko K, Fonticelli M, Federico A, Romano M, Gravina AG. The potential therapeutic role of Hericium erinaceus extract in pathologic conditions involving the urogenital-gut axis: insights into the involved mechanisms and mediators. J Physiol Pharmacol. 2024 Feb;75(1). doi: 10.26402/jpp.2024.1.01. Epub 2024 Apr 3. PMID: 38583434.

Sharing herbs brings them to life and that is what the Herbal Extract Company did last month, attending two industry events that we were proud to sponsor.

On the last weekend in May we attended the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) Herbal Medicine Summit 2024 on the Sunshine Coast, joining a community of like-minded practitioners who are all as passionate as each other about natural medicine. This is the NHAA’s flagship education event for the year designed to keep practitioners informed, elevate their professional skills and advance patient outcomes. It was a stellar lineup as some of the most skilled and respected naturopaths and researchers in Australia presented over 20 expert-led sessions and panel discussions. More than 200 herbalists and naturopaths gathered to witness these top industry professionals and thought leaders share their knowledge and discuss hot topics such as sustainability, small scale medicinal herb farming, cannabis ethnopharmacology and patient access, oxymels, dosing, medicine making and adventures with alembics (an apparatus used in distillation) to harness plant material aromatics.

A new initiative, called Pearls of Practice, was very well received. This was speed mentoring, rapid fire style, with 20 round table topics including actioning sustainability in practice, genetic testing tips, starting a community clinic, important post-partum care and the new frontier of Artificial Intelligence.

Our practitioner consultants were kept busy giving delegates taste tests of our liquid herbal extracts including our new mushrooms cordyceps and lion’s mane, which we stacked together with reishi, as a special synergistic mix for the Summit. It was a weekend brimming with learning, connection and deep herbal wisdom from some of the brightest minds.

Earlier in the month the Wise Women Gathering 2024 was held at Webbs Creek, 90 minutes north of Sydney. Almost 200 people attended the three-day event which was a heart-warming testimony to the strength of traditional herbal medicine in Australia.

Our sales manager Lara Ryan presented a Herbal Wisdom session called Back to Our Roots: Medicinal Herbs for Women’s Resilience. With autumn being a time to work with root herbs it was very popular with more than 40 women attending to learn about the benefits of roots in women’s health. After sharing some Herbal Extract Company history, and our unique manufacturing process, Lara went on to deep dive into six root herbs: black cohosh, paeonia, shatavari, Siberian ginseng, teasel root and wild yam. Lara said there were two herbalist midwives in the group who shared their wisdom about using the roots medicinally in soups following birth, along with including the uterine tonic blue cohosh root (caution advised unless experienced) into the birth process and after birth support. After some taste testing the women made topical herbal creams using our natural base cream. Lara was also asked to sit on a panel about Wealth Building for Wise Women. The illustrious panel discussed how to monetise their healing skills.

While used for centuries in the traditional medicine of many cultures, functional mushrooms are having a moment in Western herbal medicine with exotic varieties capturing the popular imagination. This is because, being rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, they can assist people to feel and perform better. The trailblazing mycologist, author, entrepreneur and perhaps, most famously, the protagonist of the 2019 documentary Fantastic Fungi, Paul Stamets, touts the benefits of mushrooms saying: “Mushrooms are food for the body and medicine for the soul.” The colloquial term “mushroom stacking” refers to the enhanced benefits from combining medicinal mushrooms to increase overall health outcomes. Stacking adaptogenic mushrooms can create a synergistic effect, amplifying the benefits of each mushroom. 

The growing interest in microdosing psychedelics was the genesis for the practice of stacking, which involves combining microdoses of psychedelics, primarily psilocybin-containing mushrooms, with other substances that are purported to accentuate the beneficial effects. In fact, the Stamets Stack is named after Paul Stamets who has been credited with introducing the concept of stacking. The eponymous Stamets Stack includes lion's mane, niacin (vitamin B3) and the active ingredient psilocybin (which in Australia is Schedule 9 (prohibited drug) except for prescription for authorised prescribers). Stamets claims that the combination of psilocybin and lion's mane has the ability to support the development of new neural pathways (neuroplasticity) and also repair existing neurological damage. 

The use of such admixtures appears to have a long history. Aztecs combined cacao with psilocybin mushrooms in a practice referred to as cacahua-xochitl, which literally means chocolate-mushrooms, and psilocybin admixtures composed of honey, flowers and herbs have been noted in historical records among both Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples. Mushrooms, henbane (also known as nightshade, Hyoscyamus niger), stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) and other active substances were commonly added to enhance the effects of beer during the Middle Ages. Chocolate and cacao remain popular additions to psilocybin, whereas adding Syrian rue (Peganum harmala), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and/or niacin appear to be a more recent phenomenon. 

The Herbal Extract Company’s mushroom stacking is focused on the practical use of this concept as it applies to functional mushrooms without the hallucinogenic “magic” properties. A popular combination for focus and cognition includes cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris), lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus) and reishi (Ganoderma lucidum). It offers support for energy, brain health and stress support all at once. The results of a 2019 systematic review of in vivo studies suggest that dietary supplementation with lion's mane, reishi and cordyceps mushrooms may have a beneficial effect on cognitive impairment however further clinical research studies are needed. 

References

Plotkin M. The Mushroom Moment. Herbalgram. The Journal of the American Botanical Council. Winter 2024;139:36-41

Rootman JM, Kryskow P, Harvey K, Stamets P, Santos-Brault E, Kuypers KPC, Polito V, Bourzat F, Walsh Z. Adults who microdose psychedelics report health related motivations and lower levels of anxiety and depression compared to non-microdosers. Sci Rep. 2021 Nov 18;11(1):22479. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-01811-4. PMID: 34795334; PMCID: PMC8602275.

Nkodo A. A Systematic Review of in-vivo Studies on Dietary Mushroom Supplementation for Cognitive Impairment (P14-021-19). Curr Dev Nutr. 2019 Jun 13;3(Suppl 1):nzz052.P14-021-19. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzz052.P14-021-19. PMCID: PMC6574952.

Cordyceps appears to be a safe immunological adjuvant for the treatment of patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 according to an August 2023 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The study's findings provide intriguing insights into the potential of cordyceps to enhance recovery and alleviate symptoms. Further research with larger groups is essential to validate these findings and uncover the full potential of cordyceps in COVID-19 treatment.

The study meticulously analysed biomarkers associated with inflammation, immune response and infection. A total of 58 patients were considered evaluable for the analysis with 30 in the cordyceps group and 28 in the placebo group. Cordyceps capsules, administered at a dose of 500mg three times a day for 15 days along with supportive treatment, showed effectiveness in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection. This was evidenced by the proportionately higher number of recoveries on day five, the relatively shorter time for improvement of clinical symptoms, and the proportionately higher number of patients showing negative RT-PCR tests on day 10.

Mild symptomatic COVID-19 infection was defined as patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. The patient had mild symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, malaise and headache, without evidence of breathlessness or hypoxia. Moderately symptomatic COVID-19 infection was defined as pneumonia with no signs of severe disease (patients in respiratory distress). All mild patients received the standard of care treatment that included vitamin C, zinc supplements and antibiotics such as azithromycin or cefixime as per the institutional protocol in both groups. In both groups patients with moderate disease received antiviral treatment such as injections of remdesivir, anti-inflammatory agents such as prednisolone and anti-coagulants such as low molecular weight heparin, vitamin C and trace elements, as per the institutional protocol. Cordyceps was safe and well tolerated by patients, with no drug interruption or dose reduction due to minor adverse events in any of the patients. 

References

Dubhashi S, Sinha S, Dwivedi S, Ghanekar J, Kadam S, Samant P, Datta V, Singh S, Chaudry IH, Gurmet P, Kelkar H, Mishra R, Galwankar S, Agrawal A. Early Trends to Show the Efficacy of Cordyceps militaris in Mild to Moderate COVID Inflammation. Cureus. 2023 Aug 18;15(8):e43731. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43731. PMID: 37727187; PMCID: PMC10505833

A clinical trial on Bacopa monnieri extract, published in February this year, revealed significant enhancements in emotional and cognitive well-being among healthy adults. The Indian researchers claimed this is the most comprehensive study ever done on bacopa with extensive measures on memory, cognitive skills, anxiety, sleep, biomarkers and acute effects. They concluded that “our battery of cognitive functions test results shows that [bacopa] improves cognitive health, promotes concentration as early as three hours post dose on day one, increases overall memory, mental alertness, reasoning skills, mental flexibility, [brain-derived neurotrophic factor] BDNF [a key molecule involved in plastic changes related to learning and memory] levels, sleep quality and reduces anxiety and serum cortisol.”

Age-related cognitive decline substantially affects quality of life and freedom during old age. Cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language and executive functions are essential for day-to-day activities. They start declining gradually in the late 20s and this is further accelerated in the case of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Early interventions have been shown to help maintain normal and healthy cognitive aging. Cognitive enhancers, also known as nootropics, are prescribed to improve cognitive performance in elderly individuals and those with dementia. However, nootropics are increasingly being used by healthy people seeking to improve their attention, memory, focus, concentration and alertness. Students use nootropics to boost attention, increase alertness and to stay awake for an extended period. Bacopa, also known as brahmi, is a brain tonic and adaptogen known for its memory-enhancing properties and is widely used to improve cognitive functions.

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study 38 people took bacopa and 36 people were in the placebo group. They consumed either 300mg of a commercial bacopa extract or placebo every morning after breakfast for 12 weeks. The bacopa group showed significant improvements in both memory (verbal short-term memory, spatial short-term memory, working memory, visuospatial working memory and episodic memory) and cognition skills (concentration, alertness, reasoning and mental flexibility) over placebo from baseline to day 84, with effects on cognitive skills as early as day 14 and day 28 for memory. A significant acute effect on concentration was observed as early as three hours post single dose consumption of bacopa. Anxiety scores and sleep quality were also significantly improved for the bacopa group on days 28, 56 and 84 as compared to placebo. Serum cortisol levels were significantly reduced from baseline to day 56 and 84, whereas serum BDNF was significantly increased on day 84 for the bacopa group compared to placebo. 

References

Eraiah MM, Shekhar HC, Joshua L, Thomas JV. Effect of Bacopa monnieri Extract on Memory and Cognitive Skills in Adult Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study. J Psychiatry Cogn Behav. 2024;8:168. https://doi.org/10.29011/2574-7762.000068

Liquorice root extract has been shown to accelerate the healing process of skin injury caused by second-degree burns. Burns, one of the most common injuries worldwide, are caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, friction and radioactive materials and damage the skin, muscles or other tissues. The degree of burn is determined by the involvement of different layers of the skin, including the epidermis, dermis or the lower areas of the skin including muscles, tendons and bones. In this recent study second-degree burns, which damage the epidermis and the dermis, were examined. The Iranian researchers thought liquorice could be effective in treating burn wounds because of its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and lightening effects.

In the double-blinded randomised clinical trial, 50 patients with second-degree burns were randomly divided into two groups: the intervention group received hydrogel (jelly) containing liquorice root hydroalcoholic extract and the control group received hydrogel without the extract. Hydrogel is a water-based substance with a soft consistency and moisturising properties, making it a valuable tool for promoting wound care. The patients in both groups used the medication topically, twice a day, for 15 days without dressing. During this period the wound-healing process was evaluated on days 1, 3, 6, 10 and 15. The majority of burns were caused by hot liquids, followed by fire, electricity and hot materials. Most of the burns were located on the hands with others on the feet, chest, head and abdomen.

The rate of inflammation (from the 3rd day to the 10th day), redness (from the 6th day to the 15th day), pain (on the 3rd day), and burning (from the 3rd day to the 15th day) of the wound in the group that used the liquorice hydrogel was significantly lower than in the control group, and the healing process was significantly faster than the control group. The researchers concluded that based on the findings, the hydroalcoholic extract of liquorice root can accelerate the healing process of wounds caused by second-degree burns and can be considered a complementary treatment for mild and moderate burns. 

References

Zabihi M, Hatefi B, Ardakani ME, Ranjbar AM, Mohammadi F. Impact of licorice root on the burn healing process: A double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Med. 2023 May;73:102941. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2023.102941. Epub 2023 Mar 2. PMID: 36870516.

With a chocolate riddled Easter almost upon us, and the excess of Christmas not long gone, the problem of superfluous flesh, and how to remove it, may be the current concern of a great many people. This is illustrated by the soaring popularity of the prescription-only diabetes drug, Ozempic (semaglutide), after being hailed as a weight loss solution by celebrities and social media influencers. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), who regulates Australia’s medicines, recently announced that Ozempic, now a household name like Jenny Craig in the 80s, should not be given to new patients amid a worldwide shortage. Ozempic is only approved by the TGA for lowering blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes however it is being prescribed, controversially, ‘off-label’ by medical practitioners to treat conditions other than those approved by the TGA, such as weight loss and the management of obesity. 

Nowadays, obesity is a pandemic and some people seek slimming solutions to guarantee their health and quality of life. However, the cult of the healthy body has been an ongoing concern since the beginning of time. In an effort to discover more we dug deep into the library of our founder, Lyndsay Shume and it would seem not much has changed in the natural dieting world in almost 60 years – improving health may seem simple but it remains a quixotic task for many. We found a “Help” article titled “How to Reduce Without Misery” from the Health from Herbs magazine published in the United Kingdom in January-February 1968. The magazine was founded in 1864 and claimed to be the “world’s oldest herbal magazine” at the time. 

“Excessive stoutness can be reduced provided the patient is willing to make an effort and use commonsense…The fat-forming foods are: Bread, all cereals, sugar, sweet foods, fats, milk and butter. You do need these, but reduce them a little. Eat plenty of vegetables and take more exercise. Also use this formula [adapted from a tea recipe]…used by herbalists for centuries to reduce stoutness…”

Herbal Formula 210mL

Bladderwrack 1:1 (Fuscus vesiculosus) 80mL

Clivers 1:1 (Galium aparine) 80mL

Motherwort 1:1 (Leonurus cardiaca) 30mL

Senna Pods 1:1 (Senna alexandrina) 20mL - if required. If not increase Motherwort to 50mL.

Directions: 5mL TDS after meals. 

References

About the Ozempic (semaglutide) shortage 2022 and 2023. (updated 21 Sept 2023; accessed 19 Feb 2024). Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care Therapeutic Goods Administration. Available from https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/shortages/information-about-major-medicine-shortages/about-ozempic-semaglutide-shortage-2022-and-2023

Zarzo I, Boselli PM, Soriano JM. History of Slimming Diets up to the Late 1950s. Obesities. 2022; 2(2):115-126. https://doi.org/10.3390/obesities2020011

How to reduce without misery. Health From Herbs. Jan-Feb 1968;3(15):45

Valentine’s Day, on February 14, is an annual celebration of love in its many varied forms. It has competing origin stories, including beginnings in a wild pagan festival celebrating fertility or a Christian feast day honouring martyrs named Saint Valentine. However Valentine’s Day started it is now recognised as a tribute to romance in many regions of the world. This universal day of love has also become synonymous with gifts of chocolate, flowers and messages of affection from secret admirers.

Preparing, serving and enjoying delicious delicacies is a pleasurable way to spoil yourself and your valentine. Appropriately named, bliss balls are a no bake, nutritious and bite sized sweet treat. For all the herb lovers out there our Western Australia practitioner consultant Amanda Goncalves has developed a bliss ball recipe to tantalise your tastebuds. With herbal rockstar, withania (Withania somnifera), to encourage relaxation and cacao, known as “food of the Gods”, it’s difficult to stop at one.

Ingredients:

1 cup almond meal

2 tbsp desiccated coconut, plus extra for rolling

2 tbsp tahini (unhulled)

1 ½ tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp raw cacao powder

1 tsp organic vanilla bean extract

6 medjool dates finely chopped (remove pit, cover in water, soak for a few hours then blend smooth)

1 ½ tbsp Withania Extract 1:1

2 tbsp water added slowly (more if needed).

Method

1. Mix all dry ingredients together first

2. Add all wet ingredients to the dry mix including pureed dates plus approx. 2 tablespoons of warm water to get the correct texture.

3. Roll and knead with hands, divide mixture into half and roll 6 balls from each half (food processer is not needed, texture needs to be well mixed and not too sticky but able to be shaped into balls)

4. Insert decoration i.e., half walnut or roll in the desiccated coconut (after decoration is inserted gently squeeze out any cracks to correct ball shape).

Serve either straight away or refrigerate for later.

* If tahini or maple syrup are not preferred, substitute for 1 tablespoon of coconut oil melted instead.

Makes about 12- 14 bliss balls.

A recent randomised controlled trial has found that supplementing 1500mg per day of ginger can alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly constipation, nausea, bloating and abdominal pain, in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The findings of this study indicated that ginger supplementation for 12 weeks statistically significantly reduced the frequency and severity of nausea and constipation as well as the severity of bloating.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurodegenerative disease of autoimmune origin. Communication between the brain and the body is disrupted, causing persistent disability and low quality of life. Added to this burden, recent evidence has shown that gastrointestinal symptoms are common amongst these patients. This disease has four clinical course patterns, with RRMS being the most prevalent. Gastrointestinal symptoms affect more than 80% of individuals with RRMS. This investigation was conducted because ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely known for its gastrointestinal relieving properties.

The study was a 12-week double-blind parallel randomised controlled trial with a three-week run-in period during which the patients were requested to avoid consuming ginger and its products and to maintain their usual physical activity and dietary intake. Fifty-two eligible patients were randomly assigned to the ginger and placebo groups, with 26 patients in each group. The intervention group received 500mg ginger, three times a day, along with main meals. In comparison with placebo, ginger supplementation resulted in significant or near-significant reductions in the frequency and severity of constipation, nausea, bloating and the severity of abdominal pain.

Consistent with these findings, previous studies have reported that ginger supplementation significantly relieved constipation in patients with hypothyroidism and caused a significant reduction in time to first defecation after caesarean section in women. The mechanism of this beneficial effect may be related to the ability of ginger to increase gastrointestinal motility. 

References

Foshati S, Poursadeghfard M, Heidari Z, Amani R. The effects of ginger supplementation on common gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 Oct 27;23(1):383. doi: 10.1186/s12906-023-04227-x. PMID: 37891539; PMCID: PMC10605938.