Herbal Medicine

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

Winning the “mushroom with the most unique appearance award” lion’s mane, with its beautiful cascading white icicles, is extraordinary in more than just its looks. Typically it is known for its ability to support the health of the brain and nervous system along with supporting gut health.

Lion’s mane played a role in Asian culture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) long before it was introduced to the West. In Chinese and Japanese medical systems lion’s mane has traditionally been used to fortify the spleen, nourish the gut and as an anticancer herb. It is said to be nutritive to the five internal organs (liver, lung, spleen, heart and kidney), and promotes good digestion, general vigour and strength. Traditional use of lion’s mane in China and Japan has focused on its benefits for the gut, in particular its antimicrobial and immunologic properties as applied to conditions such as gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis and gastric and oesophageal cancer. 

Lion’s mane is also known for its effects on the central nervous system and is used for insomnia and weakness which are characteristic symptoms of Qi (life force) deficiency in TCM. Buddhist monks were said to have made tea using lion’s mane mushroom powder to enhance brain function and heighten their focus during meditation. Human clinical trials, though still relatively small at this stage, have reinforced the ability of lion’s mane to support brain health, revealing significantly improved cognitive function and a reduction in depression and anxiety. The ability of lion’s mane to promote nerve growth and protect the brain from Alzheimer’s-related damage may explain some of its beneficial effects on brain health. However, it is important to note that most of the research has been conducted on animals or in test tubes. Therefore, more human studies are needed.

References

Lion’s Mane Mushroom. NatMed c2024 Therapeutic Research Center.  (updated 19 Jan 2024; accessed 12 Jun 2024). Available from https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=1536

Spelman K, Sutherland E, Bagade A. Neurological Activity of Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus). Journal of Restorative Medicine. 2017 March 6(1)12:19-26 (8)

Julson E. 9 Health Benefits of Lion’s Mane Mushroom (Plus Side Effects) c2024 Healthline Media  (updated Jan 12 2024; accessed 26 Mar 2024). Available from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/lions-mane-mushroom

Cordyceps is a genus of parasitic fungi that grows on the larvae of insects. A vast amount of literature exists about cordyceps mushrooms, some of which is scientific, and some popular myth and even hype. Also known as caterpillar fungus, the fact that cordyceps grown in the wild consumes insects’ bodies from the inside out inspired the hit HBO series The Last of Us and the video game from which it is adapted. The terrifying premise of this television drama, which made cordyceps infamous, is that a pandemic started by mutant cordyceps causes a zombie apocalypse where next door neighbours become mushroom monsters. However, we can rest assured that humans are not the natural host for cordyceps as it has not adapted to infect or colonise us. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that we will ever face the same fungal plague as seen in the award winning show, which caused the collapse of society and nearly decimated the entire human race. On the contrary, cordyceps is well known for its ability to stimulate the immune system and reduce fatigue in humans. 

The remains of the insect and the cordyceps fungi Ophiocordyceps sinensis (formerly referred to by its synonym Cordyceps sinensis) have been hand-collected, dried and used as a combination in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease and low libido. The long-term process of symbiosis between the fungus and insect is time-consuming, the harvesting from its natural site makes it expensive and the growing demand for this species made it endangered so this led to the search for alternative sources. The solution to this issue is the related species Cordyceps militaris, which has a similar composition but does not present the same sustainability issues. This fungus is cultivated on a large scale in various substrates including rice, corn, soybean or barley, which are used in the culture medium instead of insects. 

Nowadays, cordyceps is known as a functional mushroom for energy and endurance because of its adaptogenic and tonic effects. Herbalists and naturopaths prescribe it to support energy levels and for convalescence after infection or illness, stress, improved vitality, general daily health prophylaxis regimes, including for healthy aging, lung and kidney support, cardiovascular health and arthritis. 

References

Tuli HS, Sandhu SS, Sharma AK. Pharmacological and therapeutic potential of Cordyceps with special reference to Cordycepin. 3 Biotech. 2014 Feb;4(1):1-12. doi: 10.1007/s13205-013-0121-9. Epub 2013 Feb 19. PMID: 28324458; PMCID: PMC3909570.

Sruthi M. Can Cordyceps Fungus Infect Humans? c1996-2024 MedicineNet, Inc. (updated 2 July 2023; accessed 22 Mar 2024). Available from https://www.medicinenet.com/can_cordyceps_fungus_infect_humans/article.htm

Wu P, Qin Q, Zhang J, Zhang H, Li X, Wang H, Meng Q. The invasion process of the entomopathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis into the larvae of ghost moths (Thitarodes xiaojinensis) using a GFP-labeled strain. Front Microbiol. 2022 Sep 2;13:974323. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.974323. PMID: 36118238; PMCID: PMC9479185.

Cordyceps. The Herbarium. The Herbal Academy. (accessed 5 Jun 2024). Available from https://herbarium.theherbalacademy.com/monograph/cordyceps/

Hsieh SA, Lin TH, Wang JS, Chen JJ, Hsu WK, Ying LC, Liang ZC. The effects of Cordyceps militaris fruiting bodies in micturition and prostate size in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients: A pilot study, Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine, 2022;Volume 4.

HEC Cordyceps monograph. https://ypi.bmw.mybluehost.me/sites/default/files/2024-05/extract_cordyceps_monograph.pdf

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.

Also known as wild pansy or Johnny-jump-up, heartsease is a common little woodland herb native to Europe and Eurasia. Not to be confused with sweet violet (Viola odorata), which is a close relative with distinctively different purple flowers, heartsease is a valued remedy for skin diseases however it was also used traditionally for its expectorant and anti-inflammatory activities in bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma and rheumatism. It can be taken internally and topically for eczema, psoriasis, hives and itching, acne and topically in babies who have cradle cap. It is also used in the urinary system to treat frequent and painful urination associated with conditions such as cystitis. 

One of the most beloved herbalists of our time, the late Juliette de Bairacli Levy, says that, as its common name may suggest, heartsease is famed for its beneficial effects on the heart both as a tonic and a remedy, including to treat heart weakness and high blood pressure. She also says it is useful for skin ailments, breast swellings, boils and abscesses. A lesser know action is that it is “known to aid speed for athletes.” 

In older folk medicine heartsease was considered to be an alterative, or blood cleansing agent, that had a metabolism promoting action. It was also used to gently alter the functioning of nerves, and the immune system, and was seen as helpful in cases of nightmares, insomnia and distressed sleep with frequent night awakenings. The herb has been used after surgery to prevent reoccurring tumours. 

References

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 595

de Bairacli Levy J. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing:New York. 1997. p.116

Rimkiene S, Ragazinskiene O, Savickiene N. The cumulation of Wild pansy (Viola tricolor L.) accessions: the possibility of species preservation and usage in medicine. Medicina (Kaunas). 2003;39(4):411-6. PMID: 12738912.

Saw palmetto is the most abundant native palm endemic to the southeastern coast of North America, growing from the coastal plains of Louisiana, across the Florida peninsula and up to South Carolina. It is characterised by evergreen, fan-shaped leaves, about one metre wide, lined with saw-like teeth along the margins of the petioles (the petiole is a stalk that attaches the leaf to the plant stem). These sharp spines give saw palmetto its common name. The gruelling harvest, therefore, is best done with heavy gloves to avoid getting cut. The fruit of this impressive palm is the premier herbal treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and has been lauded as ‘the old man’s friend’. BPH is one of the most common diseases in lower urinary tract symptoms, which can cause urinary dysfunction in middle-aged and elderly men and may affect the normal life of patients.

Saw palmetto is one of the most important North American medicinal plants of modern times. At first touted as a possible remedy for the treatment of coughs, colds and debility, it soon gained a reputation for treatment of various prostate conditions. It was an official drug, listed in two editions of the United States (US) Pharmacopoeia from 1906 to 1916. Multiple effects were reported, both digestive (stimulating appetite and providing nutrition) and reproductive (including increasing the size and secreting ability of the mammary glands, decreasing ovarian and uterine irritability, relieving dysmenorrhoea, improving ovarian dysfunction and decreasing prostate enlargement). In Europe, particularly in France, Germany and Italy, saw palmetto products were a mainstay of homeopathic practice from the 1930s to the 1960s, after which saw palmetto-based phytomedicine products emerged as standard treatments for BPH. As more scientific evidence of safety and efficacy of saw palmetto products was published, interest increased in the early 1990s, particularly in Germany. Demand is still on the rise to this day.

Regarding the growing interest in sustainability and our responsibility to protect our herbal medicines, the increased demand for saw palmetto prompted the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to officially put saw palmetto on the “Commercially Exploited Plant List” as of July 17, 2018. From this time a permit is required from the state of Florida to harvest, possess and transport saw palmetto fruit. Written permission from the landowner is required prior to harvest.  From the point of view of sustainability, overall, there is enough fruit grown and harvested in an average year that can supply the dietary supplement market. This herb is valuable not just because of its medicinal properties but also because of the labour and risks to human health involved in collecting it. Please see the Herbal Extract Company saw palmetto monograph for a detailed explanation on the harvesting of this plant. 

References

HEC Saw Palmetto monograph. Available from https://ypi.bmw.mybluehost.me/sites/default/files/2022-11/extract_sawpalmetto_monograph.pdf

Also known as bearberry (referring to its habitat in mountainous parts of the northern hemisphere), uva ursi is the prime remedy for urinary tract inflammation and infections (UTIs), particularly cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis. 

UTIs are the most frequent occurring infections in women and one of the major reasons for antibiotic prescriptions. Escherichia coli is the most frequent pathogen and first-line drugs include the antibiotic fosfomycin. Bacterial resistance is one of the major limiting factors of antibiotic use and despite fosfomycin’s activity against resistant strains (e.g. multidrug resistant E. coli), fosfomycin-resistance is an increasing problem. The antimicrobial activity of uva ursi extracts, and some of its individual constituents, has been observed in vitro however its efficacy compared with standard antimicrobial therapy has not been assessed yet. The first randomised controlled trial assessing the clinical efficacy and safety of uva ursi in comparison with fosfomycin is ongoing and the results have not yet been published. 

To the late herbalist extraordinaire Dorothy Hall, uva ursi combines the rare blend of astringent and demulcent constituents making it both a tonic and a stimulant, but also soothing and calming. She says “most herbal writers mention its effectiveness against kidney-stone pain, its cleansing and toning of the bladder with swift return to comfortable urination, and its... soothing [of] irritable genito-urinary tract inflammation. I have, in common with many other herbalists, found it equally soothing and tonic when gallstones are the problem to be treated.” When using uva ursi Hall adds dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and buchu (Agathosma betulina) to mixtures where both liver and kidneys show impeded function due to gall or kidney blockage. 

References

Hoffman D. The New Holistic Herbal. Melbourne:Element. 1990.p. 179

Tóth B, Jávorházy A, Nyirády P, Csupor-Löffler B, Birinyi P, Zhanel G, Naber K, Länger R, Vörhendi N, Gede N, Váncsa S, Hegyi P, Csupor D. Bearberry in the treatment of acute uncomplicated cystitis (BRUMI): protocol of a multicentre, randomised double-blind clinical trial. BMJ Open. 2022 Jun 24;12(6):e057982. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-057982. PMID: 35750460; PMCID: PMC9234905.

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Lothian Publishing Company:Sydney 1988. p291-3

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