One of North America's foremost experts on holistic medicine incorporating Western, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, says dong quai is the most widely used herb in Chinese medicine, and one of the most widely used herbs in the world. He classes dong quai as a long‑term, slow acting tonic remedy. He suggests that due to the hormonal effect it should not be taken until a person is reproductive, so it can be started at puberty. “Then we can start with a very, very small dose taken for the next hundred years every single day…It’s used very casually. It’s cooked into soup. It’s used as a tea. Grandma gives it to all her granddaughters every day,” he says.

Also called ‘female ginseng’, because it is an important herb for the uterus, dong quai is renowned for its use in the treatment of a wide variety of gynaecological conditions and menstrual disorders including endometriosis, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, recovery from childbirth and menopausal symptoms (especially hot flushes).

Although dong quai is known as the best Chinese tonic herb for women it can be used for both men and women for strengthening the blood, for heart conditions, high blood pressure, inflammation, headache, infections, nerve pain and liver problems. It is the most highly valued blood tonic in the East and has general and non-specific effects on the blood and circulation. Traditionally it is used to regulate the period and to enhance the fertility of women who are blood deficient.

References

Khalsa KP. Relax, Relax, Part 5: Stress and Anxiety Solutions. Natural Solutions for Stress, Anxiety, and Inflammation. LearningHerbs.com c2019 (accessed 7 Nov 2022). Available from https://herbmentormedia.s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/Courses/Relax/Relax-KP-Khalsa-Part-4-Transcript.pdf

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 426

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 427

The intriguing German word zeitgeber arose during the research for the Naturopath’s Guide to Insomnia, which launched this month, so its meaning is investigated here. The term zeitgeber, which literally means time giver or time cue, was coined by chronobiologist Jürgen Aschoff in the 1950s. It refers to cues given by the environment that reset the circadian rhythm. The role of zeitgebers in the circadian rhythm is to make sure that the biological clock is synchronised with the individual's environment. Examples of the key zeitgebers in humans are environmental cues like light (considered the most important because it essentially indicates when to go to sleep and when to wake), physical activity, food intake, body temperature and social interaction. When and how these activities are done impacts the circadian rhythm and energy levels throughout the day. This means people have more control over their internal body clock than they think.

The insomnia guide says: “The regulation of sleep is processed by the circadian rhythm, the sleep/wake cycle. Circadian rhythm is the 24-hour internal clock in the brain that regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in the environment. When properly aligned, a circadian rhythm can promote consistent and restorative sleep but when this circadian rhythm is thrown off, it can create significant sleeping problems, including insomnia.” As circadian problems often contribute to insomnia and daytime sleepiness understanding zeitgebers is a way to cue the body correctly and sync with nature to harness sleep and energy efficiently. When a person experiences significant changes in zeitgebers, such as during jetlag, these disruptions can lead to decreased cognitive performance, negative mood, and in some cases episodes of mental illness.  Zeitgeber signals such as daylight, body temperature, meals and exercise schedules can be optimised to stabilise the internal clock.

Before electric lights were introduced about a century ago, people were exposed to minimal light at night. Exposure to unnatural light late into the night (especially from screens), and a lack of access to natural sunlight when working in an office, could contribute to difficulty sleeping. There is evidence that a drop in temperature helps to transition the body to sleep, such as by turning on a fan. Having a hot shower before bedtime can begin to balance the temperature causing a drop, and by sleeping with socks on the body will try to regulate by cooling the rest of the body. Eating at night can also affect how well a person sleeps. It is helpful to eat on some kind of schedule to give the body regular and reliable cues about when to expect energy, so it can use it most efficiently. Like the meal schedule, when a person exercises can also affect their sleep cycle. It is not so much about when they exercise, but more if the timing is consistent. The profound mismatch between the “enforced” sleep duration on school/work days and the variable sleep duration on days off demonstrates the strong effect of social times on daily sleep behaviour. The biggest take away is to be consistent in daily routines, be active and eat and drink during the daylight hours and when it’s dark outside go to sleep and don’t eat.

References

Pacheco D. Can You Change Your Circadian Rhythm? Sleep Foundation One Care Media c2023. (updated 18 Jan 2023; accessed 27 Jan 2023). Available from https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/can-you-change-your-circadian-rhythm

HEC The Naturopath’s Guide to Insomnia

Hussey KD. Rhythmic history: Towards a new research agenda for the history of health and medicine. Endeavour. 2022 Dec;46(4):100846. doi: 10.1016/j.endeavour.2022.100846. Epub 2022 Dec 13. PMID: 36521301.

Walker WH, Walton JC, DeVries AC et al. Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health. Transl Psychiatry. 2020;10(28). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-0694-0

Due to a shortage of butternut raw material from the recent harvest out of the USA, owing in part to limited pickers, we would like to provide you with some alternative herbs. 

Butternut is a species of walnut also known as white walnut, which is a cousin to black walnut (Juglans nigra: this herb has the same procurement issues). It is a mild cathartic (a purgative with a stronger effect than a laxative) for chronic constipation, gently encouraging regular bowel movements, and is often used as a vermifuge (used to destroy or eject worms in the intestine). It is especially beneficial when combined with a carminative herb such as angelica (Angelica archangelica), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) or ginger (Zingiber officinale). It is used for constipation due to weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the colon and rectum, to stimulate liver function in congestive digestive disorders and for skin diseases, such as dermatitis, associated with sluggish bowel and/or liver. 

Aloes (Aloe ferox): “Aloes” is the generic name for the solid residue obtained by boiling and cooling the latex of Aloe ferox, its hybrids and A. vera (also known as A. barbadensis). The latex, found in cells in the margins of the leaves, is mainly used for its anthraquinone laxative effect. Traditionally it was used as a warming and stimulating purgative and vermifuge. Aloes has been used as a cathartic, stomachic (to tone the stomach and improve its function), emmenagogue and anthelmintic (medicines that are used for treatment of infections with parasitic worms including vermifuges) and more recently for the treatment of diseases of the immune system.

Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula): Buckthorn has been used in traditional European medicine as a laxative and cathartic, and also as a general tonic. It is particularly useful as a gentle purgative in chronic constipation and as a digestive stimulant. As a laxative buckthorn is not as powerful as senna pods (Senna alexandrina) or aloes and is slightly more effective than rhubarb (Rheum palmatum).

Cascara sagrada (Frangula purshiana): Cascara sagrada (a close European cousin of buckthorn) is best known as an effective stimulating laxative used for chronic constipation, colitis, digestive complaints, haemorrhoids, liver problems and jaundice. Traditionally it was considered suitable for delicate and elderly people. It is a medium strength yet gentle laxative, somewhat weaker than aloes, rhubarb and senna pods, which can move the bowel without griping (although the addition of carminatives is still recommended).

Rhubarb (Rheum palmatum): Also known as Chinese rhubarb (Da Huang), rhubarb has a purgative action. It was primarily used in traditional medicine as a stimulant laxative to treat constipation. At low doses it is said to act as an antidiarrhoeal because of the tannin components whereas at higher doses it exerts a cathartic action. Rhubarb also has an astringent effect, making it a true gut cleanser, as it can firstly remove waste and then astringe the system with its antiseptic properties. To avoid any griping it is recommended to take rhubarb with carminatives.

References

Steenkamp V, Stewart MJ. Medicinal Applications and Toxicological Activities of Aloe. Products, Pharmaceutical Biology. 2007;45:5, 411-420, DOI: 10.1080/13880200701215307

Bhaludra CSS, Bethapudi RR, Murugulla AC, Pullagummi C, Latha T, Venkatesh K, et al. Cultivation, Phytochemical Studies, Biological Activities and Medicinal Uses of Aloe ferox, Grandfather of Aloes an Important Amazing Medicinal Plant. International Journal of Pharmacology. 2013;9: 405-415.

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1978. p. 136.

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin:London. 1991. p.471

Weiss R. Herbal Medicine.Stuttgart: Thieme, 2001. p. 110-11.

Rogers M. Cascara Sagrada. (updated; accessed 2 May 2022). Herbalpedia The Herb Growing & Marketing Network c2014. Available from https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/herbmentormedia/Articles/PDF/Herbalpedia/herbalpedia-cascara-sagrada.pdf

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin:London. 1991. p.445

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 577

Wood M. The Book of Herbal Wisdom. California:North Atlantic Books. 1997.

A flowering plant in the mint family, with densely felted hairs on the leaves, white horehound is primarily used for the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. In the English language the name horehound comes from the Old English words har and hune, meaning downy plant. It was the principal ingredient in the enslaved man Dr Caesar’s antidote for poisons. In the spring of 1750, the USA’s South Carolina General Assembly purchased the freedom of Dr Caesar because it was believed he possessed life-saving medical knowledge. The white minority of South Carolina’s early population were terrified of being secretly poisoned by the enslaved people who prepared their meals and sought remedies that might save them. In return for his emancipation Caesar divulged to a committee of white legislators his secret antidote for poisons and snakebites, prepared from a combination of familiar plants found across the colonial landscape. This simple decoction earned him immortal fame in South Carolina and beyond. The two main ingredients that Caesar employed were white horehound and ribwort (Plantago lanceolata).

White horehound has long been noted for its efficacy in lung troubles and cough. As a gentle stimulating expectorant it assists in bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough, loss of voice, chesty colds and congestive catarrhal conditions with a non-productive cough. Or as one of the most influential herbalist writers, Nicholas Culpeper, described it in the 19th century “tough phlegm from the chest”.

In A Modern Herbal in 1931, for ‘pectoral remedies’, Maud Grieve combined white horehound with hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), rue (Ruta graveolens), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and marshmallow (Althaea officinalis). She also says it is very useful for children’s cough and croup and helps as a “corrective of the stomach”. A bitter action stimulates the flow and secretion of bile from the gallbladder aiding digestion. It is useful for dyspepsia, easing bloating and gas, and acts as a vermifuge. This bitter plant has been used as a substitute for hops (Humulus lupulus) in beer breweries.

References

Butler N. Doctor Caesar and His Antidote for Poison in 1750. Charleston County Public Library c2022. (updated 12 Feb 2021; accessed 3 Nov 2022). Available from https://www.ccpl.org/charleston-time-machine/doctor-caesar-and-his-antidote-poison-1750

Aćimović M, Jeremić K, Salaj N, Gavarić N, Kiprovski B, Sikora V, Zeremski T. Marrubium vulgare L.: A Phytochemical and Pharmacological Overview. Molecules. 2020 Jun 24;25(12):2898. doi: 10.3390/molecules25122898. PMID: 32599693; PMCID: PMC7355696.

Culpeper N. Culpeper’s Complete Herbal and English physician. Magna Books: Leicester 1981 (original edition published 1826). p. 76.

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 565

Rezgui M, Basma M, Neng N, Nogueira JM, Bettaieb Ben-Kaab L, Machado Araújo ME. Evaluation of Marrubium vulgare Growing Wild in Tunisia for Its Potential as a Dietary Supplement. Foods. 2021; 10(11):2864. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods10112864

[vi] Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin:London; 1980. p. 416

Australians are being advised to protect themselves against mosquitos this summer due to recent weather conditions which have been favourable for mosquito breeding across Australia. Mosquito numbers are particularly high across many parts of Victoria, including species known to transmit diseases to humans. Taking measures to avoid mosquito bites is therefore a critical step to protect against infections. 

A 2019 systemic review has found that some plant extracts and essential oils have significant repellent activity against Anopheles spp. mosquitoes, which transmit malaria. The researchers concluded that they could be formulated for the development of eco-friendly mosquito repellents with easy-to-administer, low-cost and risk-free properties. 

Herbal Mosquito Repellent (adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs) 

Makes about 250mL.

Ingredients

120mL witch hazel water

20mL lemon balm extract

20mL thyme extract

20mL cinnamon extract

20mL rosemary extract

20mL clove extract

20mL epilobium extract

20 drops peppermint essential oil

20 drops eucalyptus essential oil

20 drops lavender essential oil

10 drops lemongrass essential oil

10 drops lemon essential oil

10 drops geranium essential oil

Directions

Pour both the witch hazel extract and the herbal liquid extracts into an 250mL spray bottle.

Slowly drip the essential oils into the bottle.

Cap the bottle and shake vigorously to combine.

Store in the refrigerator. Mixture will be shelf-stable for up to a year when stored properly.

To Use

Shake well before each use. Spritz over exposed skin, avoiding eyes and mucous membranes. Reapply as often as needed. Should skin irritation occur, cease using immediately and wash clean. Do not ingest. Please research essential oils prior to use, especially if pregnant or nursing.

References

Friedman D. Health warning on Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. Victorian Government Department of Health (updated Dec 15 2022; accessed Dec 15 2022).  Available from https://www.health.vic.gov.au/health-advisories/health-warning-on-ross-river-virus-barmah-forest-virus-other-mosquito-borne-diseases

Asadollahi A, Khoobdel M, Zahraei-Ramazani A, Azarmi S, Mosawi SH. Effectiveness of plant-based repellents against different Anopheles species: a systematic review. Malar J. 2019 Dec 21;18(1):436. doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-3064-8. PMID: 31864359; PMCID: PMC6925501.

Heidi. Homemade Mosquito Repellent. Mountain Rose Herbs c2022 (updated July 13 2022; accessed Dec 15 2022). Available from https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/noskeeter-spritz

The tall, majestic feathery fronds of fennel stand out from roadsides imparting a sweet aniseed scent however it’s the richly aromatic seeds of this wild weed that are an ancient digestive remedy. Fennel’s carminative action means it is often applied to treat mild spasmodic gastrointestinal complaints such as flatulence, hiccupping, indigestion, colic, bloating, heartburn and intestinal cramps, especially in children and infants (it is an ingredient in gripe water for infant colic). This explains why eating raw fennel seeds before or after a meal is common in many Asian cultures.

Fennel is a useful women’s remedy, and is a well-known galactagogue, used to promote the flow of breast milk. Throughout European tradition it has been highly valued for increasing milk production in both humans and other mammals, such as farm animals. When taken by the mother the volatile oils will pass to the baby to soothe digestive troubles. It has also been used to regulate the menstrual cycle and relieve period pains. Its diuretic properties help relieve fluid retention and urinary infections. This action also assists with arthritis and gout.

Interestingly fennel has ancient connections with the Olympic marathon, the ultimate prize for a long-distance runner. The word ‘marathon’ literally means ‘a place full of fennel’ in Ancient Greek. It is believed that the Greek town of Marathon was originally named so because of an abundance of fennel plants in the area. Marathon was the site of the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, in which the heavily outnumbered Athenian army defeated the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides, a Greek herald at the battle, was sent running from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory which is how the marathon running race was conceived in modern times. Since then the word ‘marathon’ has been applied to anything that’s done for a long time.

Rarely is fennel seen in herbal texts as a nervine however it has been reported to have mood enhancing properties. Herbal writer and nun from the 12th Century, Hildegard von Bingen, said “Fennel forces the spirits into the correct balance of joy.” In line with this, a recent systematic and meta-analysis investigation into the effectiveness of fennel on symptoms among menopausal women found that, based on the two trials, fennel had beneficial effects on some psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. The researchers said fennel may have an indirect effect in the treatment of sleep disorder through improving depression and anxiety. The women treated with fennel showed reportedly higher sexual function and sexual satisfaction compared to the placebo group.

References

McIntyre A. The Complete Women’s Herbal. London: Gaia Books Limited, 1994. p. 189

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin: London. 1991. p.425-6

McIntyre A. The Complete Women’s Herbal. London: Gaia Books Limited, 1994. p. 189

McIntyre A. The Complete Women’s Herbal. London: Gaia Books Limited, 1994. p. 189

Khadivzadeh T, Najafi MN, Kargarfard L, Ghazanfarpour M, Dizavandi FR, Khorsand I. Effect of Fennel on the Health Status of Menopausal Women: A Systematic and Meta-analysis. J Menopausal Med. 2018 Apr;24(1):67-74. doi: 10.6118/jmm.2018.24.1.67. Epub 2018 Apr 30. PMID: 29765930; PMCID: PMC5949311.

Heckels F, Lawton K (The Seed Sistas). The Sensory Herbal Handbook. Watkins: London. 2019. p. 173-4

In the early days of the Herbal Extract Company (late 1980s) one of the best supporters of our founder, Lyndsay Shume, was the matriarch of herbal medicine, the late Dorothy Hall (dec. March 24, 2012). She believed in the Herbal Extract Company herbs and felt she got the best results with them. She told all her students to use our herbs and to this day many of her students are still our best customers. In her eponymous book, Hall says the fragrant culinary herb thyme is powerfully protective and therapeutic. She calls it one of the “big three” of herbal medicine along with sage (Salvia officinalis) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum), adding that “there can never be a sharp cut-off point between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs.”

Thyme is a potent herbal medicine for different kinds of infection, including bacterial and fungal, but especially those in the respiratory and digestive systems. Hall says thyme is almost equal to garlic (Allium sativum) as an antiseptic herb and as a carminative, for dyspepsia and sluggish digestion, it ranks with chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). She used thyme to fight off streptococcal throat and lung and kidney infections. “Many tonsillectomies may have been avoided by the use of thyme as a tea, as a gargle, or in an internal mixture,” she said. In the respiratory tract thyme’s expectorant, antispasmodic and antiseptic properties make it useful for any respiratory conditions characterised by excess levels of mucus, phlegm or catarrh including influenza, colds, bronchitis, asthma, whooping cough and sinusitis.

So many beneficial effects have been attributed to time that French herbalist and author Fabrice Bardeau proclaimed thyme as “an indispensable plant, which should be consumed to conserve health. Furthermore, if one could replace ones’ morning cup of coffee with an infusion of thyme, you would quickly appreciate its positive effects: animation of spirit, sensation, lightness in the stomach, absence of morning cough, and its euphoriant and tonic effect.”

References

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p. 289

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p. 58, 289

Quave, C.L. Quave Research Group Website. Version 11.0, April 2015. Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae by Carly McCabe [Internet]; 2015 [accessed Nov 7 2022]. Available from https://etnobotanica.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Plant-Monograph-Book-4.2013.pdf

No food or drug of today comes close to matching the place of honour that slippery elm held in 18th and 19th century America. The herb was the nation’s leading home remedy for anything in need of soothing. An Eclectic physician Dr Beach reported the numerous uses by Native Americans and declared that "in point of utility, it is of far more value than its weight in gold".  Its common name refers to the slippery consistency the inner bark assumes when it is chewed or mixed with water.

Slippery elm has traditionally been used for a range of ailments, particularly in relation to the mucous membranes, digestive and urinary systems.  The highly demulcent and soothing action of the mucilage was employed in the treatment of stomach ulcers, reflux, diarrhoea and colitis.  Slippery elm was also used for coughs and sore throats, having a soothing, antitussive and reflex demulcent action. 

The reflex action of the mucilage on the mucous membranes of the genitourinary tract meant the herb was also useful in cases of cystitis and bladder irritation.  Topical applications of the powdered inner bark were traditionally used to help heal and soothe skin ulcers, burns, wounds and boils. The herb also has a bulk laxative action and was valuable in providing nutrition during convalescence.  Slippery elm was taken before festivities to avoid "hangover" and before travelling to avoid travel sickness. While containing less mucilage than a water only based extraction, the ethanol and water extract still contains some mucilage. This extract is useful for compounding and compliance in people who are unable to take the powder.

References

HEC monograph

Ivy leaf is a popular ornamental climbing plant native to Europe. As an evergreen it is still green in the depths of winter and, as such, is the mainstay of British Christmas decorations for church along with holly, both celebrated in the traditional British folk Christmas carol “The Holly and the Ivy”.

The traditional European indications for ivy leaf were primarily for the respiratory tract and to this day it is used against diseases of the lower respiratory tract associated with productive cough including the common cold, asthma and acute and chronic bronchitis. In modern times it is administered to improve lung function and symptoms of coughing and expectoration, especially with accompanying obstructive pulmonary complaints and microbial infections. Clinical data supports these indications, especially for children. 

Ivy leaf’s affinity for the respiratory tract begs the question: “Can it be used for COVID-19?” Current recommendations for the self-management of COVID-19 are similar to how symptoms would be treated for seasonal flu. These include self-isolation, rest, hydration and the use of the painkiller paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, in the case of high fever only. Most of the current guidelines do not specifically advise on how to treat cough, one of the main symptoms which, apart from being very debilitating, contributes to the spread of the virus. It is expected that many patients will add other symptomatic/adjuvant treatments such as herbal medicines. A recent study aimed to provide a benefits/risks assessment of selected herbal medicines traditionally indicated for “respiratory diseases” within the current frame of the COVID-19 pandemic as an adjuvant treatment. The researchers concluded that ivy leaf has “safety margins superior to those of reference drugs [paracetamol, ibuprofen and codeine] and enough levels of evidence to merit [its] potential clinical use as [an adjuvant] in the treatment of early/mild cases of COVID-19.”

References

Mandade R J, Choudhuri A, Mashirkar V, Sakarkar D. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Hedera helix leaf extract. Pharmacie Globale (IJCP) 2010, 4 (07).

Lutsenko Y, Bylka W, BylkaIrena W, Matławska M, Darmohray R. Hedera helix as a medicinal plant. Herba Polonica. January 2010;56(1).

Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. American Botanical Council. 2000. Published by Integrative Medicine Communications. Available from the American Botanical Council. http://cms.herbalgram.org/expandedE/Ivyleaf.html

Schmidt M, Thomsen M, Schmidt U. Suitability of ivy extract for the treatment of paediatric cough. Phytother Res. 2012 Dec;26(12):1942-7. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4671. Epub 2012 Apr 25.

Silveira D, Prieto-Garcia JM, Boylan F, Estrada O, Fonseca-Bazzo YM, Jamal CM, Magalhães PO, Pereira EO, Tomczyk M, Heinrich M. COVID-19: Is There Evidence for the Use of Herbal Medicines as Adjuvant Symptomatic Therapy? Front Pharmacol. 2020 Sep 23;11:581840. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.581840. PMID: 33071794; PMCID: PMC7542597.

Treating COVID-19 symptoms at home. Healthdirect Australia. (updated July 2022;accessed 12 Aug 2022). Available from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid-19/treating-symptoms-at-home