Herbal Medicine

Not to be confused with a different species in the verbena family, the highly scented lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora), vervain, like so many other lilac-flowered plants, is primarily a nervine. It is considered specific for long standing nervous tension, especially helpful when a patient has been chronically stressed for an extended time. According to the Dorothy Hall vervain person-picture they are “detail” people, “conscientious, always busy and somewhat irritable.” This is echoed by UK herbalist Lucy Jones who says: “I always think of it for people who make lists…Vervain is specific for those who are perfectionists and carry the weight of the world on their shoulders…” She says another way of viewing this is that they carry most of their tension in their neck and shoulders. 

Vervain is also strongly bitter, which stimulates the liver and bile secretion, enhancing digestion. As a hepatic herb vervain encourages hormone balance meaning it can be helpful for menstrual irregularities, period pain, menopausal symptoms and premenstrual tension. Vervain also plays a role in balancing blood sugar and counteracting depression through its liver supporting action. 

It's no wonder then that Juliette de Bairacli Levy, deemed one of the grandmothers of contemporary herbalism, declared vervain a cure-all which, “along with red clover (Trifolium pratense), is known as God’s gift to man… In the plague years, vervain was one of the herbs recommended as a safeguard.” De Bairacli Levy said that while vervain is beneficial for all “ills” it is especially valuable for fevers. 

References

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p301

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p362

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p362

de Bairacli Levy J. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing:New York. 1997. p.165

Believed to be a hybrid of spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica), the highly aromatic, pleasant tasting peppermint is a very popular herbal tea however it is also significantly medicinal and should not be underestimated as a herbal extract. It is often taken after meals because of its carminative properties but it should be avoided by people who are prone to heartburn, acid reflux or hiatus hernia. This is due to the fact that it relaxes the stomach and oesophageal valve, potentially exacerbating these conditions. Therefore it is best drunk as a tea, or taken as a liquid extract, when needed rather than as a daily habit. It is widely known to relieve digestive ailments including indigestion, flatulence, nausea and associated problems. 

It may come as a surprise to some people that while peppermint may be cooling at first it then warms the system and encourages sweating. It has been used in both traditional Chinese medicine and Western herbalism as a diaphoretic to address fevers that accompany colds and influenza. According to UK herbalist, Lucy Jones, although cooling in action superficially peppermint raises the internal heat of the body and encourages sweating but less strongly than some of the other diaphoretic herbs. 

Peppermint is one of the stars of a classic botanical blend of synergistic herbs that is still common today for the onset of colds and influenza. It is a combination of equal parts yarrow (Achillea millefolium), elder flowers (Sambucus nigra) and peppermint, colloquially known as Y.E.P.  Maud Grieve said “An infusion of equal quantities of Peppermint herb and Elder flowers (to which either Yarrow or Boneset may be added) will banish a cold or mild attack of influenza within thirty-six hours, and there is no danger of an overdose or any harmful action on the heart. Peppermint tea is used also for palpitation of the heart.” 

References

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p.275

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p.275

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Middlesex:Penguin Books. 1978

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.

Rhubarb, also known as Da Huang, has been used medicinally in China for many centuries and is noted for the medicinal properties of its root. The Chinese Materia Medica described the traditional use including: “Purging heat and loosing the bowels, used for retention of the faeces and abdominal pain, fever with constipation and dysentery with inadequate discharge of the bowels…” In her famous book, A Modern Herbal published in 1931, Maud Grieve says R. palmatum, also called turkey rhubarb, can be distinguished from its relation, the familiar garden rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), by its much larger size, the shape of its leaves and the “graceful looseness of its little panicles [cluster of flowers] of greenish-white flowers. The first buds which appear in spring are yellow, not red.” The flowers, however, can become purple-red as they grow. 

The use of rhubarb root as a laxative for use in constipation is recognised and well documented in authoritative texts. It is used for short-term use in cases of occasional constipation by promoting intestinal contraction and movement. The correct individual dose is the smallest required to produce a comfortable soft-formed motion. 

As a mild anthraquinone purgative rhubarb differs from other anthraquinone purgatives in that it exerts an astringent action after evacuation of the bowels. This makes it a true gut cleanser because it can firstly remove debris and then astringe the system with its antiseptic properties. It is therefore used traditionally as both a laxative and an antidiarrhoeal agent. The astringent bitter action predominates with small doses. To avoid any griping it is recommended to take rhubarb with carminatives such as ginger (Zingiber officinale). 

References

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Middlesex: Penguin Books; 1973. p. 676

European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Rheum palmatum L. and Rheum
officinale Baillon, radix. Scientific Medicines Health. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) (updated September 25 2019;accessed Jan 23 2024). Available from https://www.fitoterapia.net/archivos/201910/draft-assessment-report-rheum-palmatum-l-rheum-officinale-baillon-radix-revision-1_en.pdf?1

Xiang H, Zuo J, Guo F, Dong D. What we already know about rhubarb: a comprehensive review. Chin Med. 2020 Aug 26;15:88. doi: 10.1186/s13020-020-00370-6. PMID: 32863857; PMCID: PMC7448319

European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP) Monographs. Rhei Radix Rhubarb. 2018.
Notaries House:United Kingdom

European Medicines Agency. Assessment report on Rheum palmatum L. and Rheum
officinale Baillon, radix. Scientific Medicines Health. Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC) (updated September 25 2019;accessed Jan 23 2024). Available from https://www.fitoterapia.net/archivos/201910/draft-assessment-report-rheum-palmatum-l-rheum-officinale-baillon-radix-revision-1_en.pdf?1

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

Blue cohosh is from the Berberidaceae, or barberry, family. The plant has dark blue berries and small, white flowers. Blue cohosh is generally classed as a uterine tonic which has both stimulating and relaxing properties which facilitate childbirth, similar to raspberry (Rubus idaeus) and black cohosh (Actaea racemosa) which is not related despite the similar name. Blue cohosh produces contractions which are regular and effective, interspersed with a good relaxation period. It is said to be most helpful when delay in childbirth is due to weakness, fatigue or ‘lack of uterine power’. It was a favourite remedy amongst Native American women for false pains and after pains. Historically it was used to prepare the uterus for labour (partus praeparator), for period pain and for various ‘inflammations’ of the uterus. It also acts as a relaxant and tonic to the nervous system. Traditionally, blue cohosh has been used as a diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant and for arthritis, but it is used most commonly in pregnancy and gynaecology, most specifically as a way to avoid conventional methods of induction. 

Case reports of adverse events in recent years, however, have called for an evaluation of the plant’s pharmacological and safety data. Reports of toxicity associated with blue cohosh, combined with its continued popularity as a natural birthing aid, prompted The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) to publish a monograph. “Blue cohosh has been implicated in a few cases of toxicity that include neonatal cardiac toxicity and maternal toxicity,” said AHP Executive Director Roy Upton. “Because blue cohosh was the primary herb used in birthing practices of herbalists, integrated medical doctors, and midwives for more than 100 years, we felt it was important to address this concern.” The AHP monograph notes that Eclectic physicians in the latter part of the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries almost always used the herb in combination formulas, “which inherently limits the exposure to potentially toxic substances.” Upton says, ”it may still prove to be a safe and effective induction agent when used by highly trained and experienced birthing professionals, but concern regarding potential toxicity has limited its use in birthing.” A review of the data suggests that blue cohosh is indeed associated with certain adverse events reported, but confounding factors make it impossible to establish a causal relationship. The monograph stressed the “need to use the herb within the context of those most experienced with it and in the context of how it was most widely used traditionally, in combination with other botanicals.” 

A combination of blue and black cohosh has been shown to be effective in ripening the uterus for augmenting labour. There were claims of neurological toxicity in a newborn after using this combination however they were formally disputed on the grounds that the toxic effects suggested would only occur if much higher doses than reported were consumed. Caution is therefore advised with this herb during pregnancy. 

References

McIntyre A. The Complete Woman’s Herbal. Gai Books Limited:London. 1994. p. 26

Blue Cohosh Root & Rhizome monograph. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 2012.

Smith T. American Herbal Pharmacopoeia Publishes Blue Cohosh Monograph. HerbalGram Winter 2012;96:18. https://www.herbalgram.org/resources/herbalgram/issues/96/table-of-contents/hg96-orgnews-blkcohosh/

Trickey R. Women, Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle. 3rd edn. Fairfield: Melbourne Holistic Health Group. 2011. p. 293

Tradition as a living system: A framework to bridge traditional knowledge with contemporary needs

The tension between traditional medicine systems and evidence-based medicine has been a source of challenge and debate in recent years. However traditional medicine is off to a good start in 2024 with a groundbreaking Australian study, published two months ago, providing important insights on how to better bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and contemporary health care to achieve appropriate and effective implementation of traditional evidence. The Contemporary Implementation of Traditional Knowledge and Evidence in Health (CITE) Framework was developed to support translation of traditional knowledge, from traditional medicine systems with written historical records, for use in modern-day research, education, policy and health care practice. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend the integration of traditional and complementary medicine into health care services as one important strategy to help improve health service delivery and health outcomes however its integration into a dominant health care system needs to be supported by quality evidence. The CITE Framework was designed with the intention of being accessible and useful to people both inside and outside of traditional medicine systems who wish to engage with traditional medicine knowledge in a meaningful way. It is comprised of three sections which each include guiding principles and criteria to approach traditional knowledge as a source of evidence, how to evaluate sources of traditional knowledge and how to integrate it into a contemporary setting. 

This project is the result of more than 10 years of research led by Associate Professor Amie Steel and Dr Hope Foley, working with stakeholders of traditional medicine systems from research, education, policy and practice to understand their experiences of using traditional knowledge, or using research, policies or interventions based on such traditional knowledge. Educational institutions, traditional, complementary and integrative medicine journals, and practitioner organisations from around the world have already expressed interest in adopting the framework in their activities. The authors believe that this framework will be critical to providing a rigorous, robust and respectful guide for selecting, evaluating and applying traditional knowledge in contemporary contexts.

The CITE Framework can be downloaded here.

References

Steel A, Foley H, Adams J, Bugarcic A, Leach M, Wardle J (2023). Contemporary Implementation of Traditional Knowledge and Evidence in Health (CITE) Framework. Ultimo, Australia: Australian Research Consortium in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney.

Foley H, Bugarcic A, Adams J, Wardle J, Leach M, Steel A. Criteria for the selection, evaluation and application of traditional knowledge in contemporary health practice, education, research and policy: A systematic review. Health Info Libr J. 2023 Sep;40(3):233-261. doi: 10.1111/hir.12499. Pub 2023 Aug 2. PMID: 37531012.

A large plant belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae), St. Mary’s thistle has a long-standing reputation as a bitter liver herb used as a preventative measure for liver damage caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and chemical toxins. Perhaps of even more interest at this time of year, is the fact that the seeds of St. Mary’s thistle are often the first choice of herb to protect the liver from the ill effects of excessive alcohol consumption as they minimise hangovers and reduce toxic fatty degeneration of the liver.  

In practice, St. Mary’s thistle is commonly used for treating digestive disorders and any indication whereby improved liver function or liver protection may be a benefit. As well as being a general ‘liver cleansing’ agent, the seeds have been used traditionally to treat jaundice, hepatitis, haemorrhoids and psoriasis. The specific species name marianum preserves the legend that the white mottling surrounding the venation of the leaves was a result of a single drop of the Virgin Mary's milk as it gently fell onto the leaf surface. This medicinal plant is traditionally used as a galactogogue (stimulating milk production) and as a tonic for nursing mothers, perhaps contributing to the word origins of the other common name, milk thistle, along with the milky sap it exudes.  

There is often a connection between poor liver health and depression and St. Mary’s thistle is specific for depression that follows hepatitis. The British herbalist Gerard referred to it as ‘the best remedy that grows against all melancholy diseases.’ Melancholy, a term that is often equated with depression, derives its name from the Greek words ‘black bile’ and was treated historically with liver herbs, in addition to mood-enhancing plants. 

References

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p.237

Braun L, Cohen M. Essential Herbs and Natural Supplements. Chatswood:Elsevier. 2017. p. 866

HEC monograph

Known as a Christmas trimming associated with the ‘kissing under the mistletoe’ custom (the fictional young wizard Harry Potter had his first kiss this way), this romantic plant is more than just a holiday decoration. In ancient lore mistletoe signified life-force and fertility, hence the tradition of kissing under it, and it was considered a panacea with exceptional beneficial properties. Ethanolic liquid extracts of mistletoe have been widely used in folk medicine in Europe for blood pressure reduction. It has also been prescribed historically as a nervine for convulsions and epilepsy. In modern herbal medicine it is mostly chosen to help treat hypertension and insomnia. This semi-parasitic plant has also been used for more than 100 years in the complementary therapy of cancer and other immunological disorders. Several lines of evidence indicate that mistletoe improves patient survival, reduces the damage caused by conventional cancer therapies and increases patients’ quality of life. 

The relation between cancer and inflammation has been widely demonstrated. One researcher said, “inflammation and cancer dance together towards disaster”. Inflammation is considered a hallmark of cancer and related to the spread of the disease within the body and the resistance of cancer cells to the treatment. Chronic inflammation is closely related to oxidative stress and immunosuppression. A 2023 study researching the anti-inflammatory activity of mistletoe concluded that, although further data trials need to be performed, the examination of clinical and pharmacological evidence on the majority of oncological patients so far “allows us to consider European mistletoe extracts able to cause various anticancer achievements. This anticancer activity is matched with pro-apoptotic, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects, which are considered necessary to reduce the disease.” The researcher also said mistletoe can improve quality of life and treatment-related symptoms. 

In general, mistletoe does not kill its host tree as it needs the host alive for its own survival. It provides many habitat benefits for local native wildlife. The host plant chosen by mistletoe depends on the available flora. It can be found mostly in several deciduous and needle trees such as apple, linden, hawthorn, oak, elm, poplar, pines and firs. In Nigeria and Ghana it can be found on cocoa, kola and cashew trees. Mistletoe produces its own energy through photosynthesis, and can biosynthesise its own compounds, but it can also take some nutrients and water from the host trees. Pharmacologically active compounds pass from the host trees to the parasitic plants. Research from 2022 found that host trees play a key role in the phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of mistletoe. 

References

Saha C, Das M, Stephen-Victor E, Friboulet A, Bayry J, Kaveri SV. Differential Effects of Viscum album Preparations on the Maturation and Activation of Human Dendritic Cells and CD4⁺ T Cell Responses. Molecules. 2016 Jul 14;21(7). pii: E912. doi: 10.3390/molecules21070912.

Melo MNO, Ochioni AC, Zancan P, Oliveira AP, Grazi M, Garrett R, Holandino C, Baumgartner S. Viscum album mother tinctures: Harvest conditions and host trees influence the plant metabolome and the glycolytic pathway of breast cancer cells. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Oct 31;13:1027931. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1027931. PMID: 36386174; PMCID: PMC9662615.

Jones L. A Working Herbal Dispensary. Aeon Books:Glasgow. 2023. p239

Nicoletti M. The Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Viscum album. Plants (Basel). 2023 Mar 27;12(7):1460. doi: 10.3390/plants12071460. PMID: 37050086; PMCID: PMC10096603.

Nazaruk J, Orlikowski P. Phytochemical profile and therapeutic potential of Viscum album L. Nat Prod Res. 2016;30(4):373-85. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2015.1022776. Epub 2015 Mar 27. PMID: 25813519.

As we hurtle towards the silly season we are inspired by our beautiful rose-coloured branding to spread some LOVE because, as exciting as it is, it can all be a bit overwhelming and exhausting. We know the Christmas period is supposed to be joyous but, whether you celebrate it or not, it can be a source of stress, anxiety and depression for some. So as an antidote we have concocted a Christmas LOVE Potion containing heart-warming herbs so you can drink and be merry over the break. For extra nurturing we have added some rose (no not rosé) quartz which is known as the stone of love and emotional healing, working on the heart chakra.

While many people are making merry others find that the Christmas spirit can be undermined by the expense of gifts and food, the pressure of shopping, family tensions and the expectations of the festive season. The emphasis on family, friends and shared good times can exacerbate emotional triggers and feelings of isolation and bereavement. In times of stress and uncertainty plants can be turned to for nourishment and healing. Herbs are wonderful allies for vitality and relaxation and they have an innate ability to restore deficient and depleted energy. Some supportive and uplifting herbs to include in a mocktail to help you feel cheerful and jolly include Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) and Withania (Withania somnifera).

Christmas LOVE Potion Recipe

Recipe adapted from The Junior Herbalist Club rose lemonade recipe and Love Elixir in The Herball’s Guide to Botanical Drinks

Makes 1.5 litres

Ingredients:

• 20g dried organic rose petals

• 1 punnet (approx. 120g) of fresh or frozen organic raspberries, crushed with a pestle or fork

• 150g organic raw sugar (or sweetener of choice)

• 500mL boiling water

• 1L filtered water* (or sparkling water if preferred)

• 20mL of rose water

• 5 organic lemons

• 5mL Herbal Extract Company Hawthorn (or Arjuna)

• 5mL Herbal Extract Company Lemon Balm

• 5mL Herbal Extract Company Motherwort

• 5mL Herbal Extract Company Withania

Instructions:

1. Put the rose petals, raspberries and sugar into a large heat proof container, pour over the boiling water and leave for 10 minutes to steep.
2. Strain into a glass water jug, add the filtered (or sparkling) water and rose water.
3. Squeeze the lemons directly into the jug.
4. Add the liquid herbal extracts into the jug, add ice and stir.

This can be served over pieces of raw rose quartz crystals placed into glasses. Rose petals and fresh raspberries can be added for garnish. Sip quietly and savour.

*You may wish to infuse the 1L of filtered water with the rose quartz beforehand if you have time.

Rose Quartz-infused water

Gently clean the crystals under running water then carefully add them to a glass jug, pour over 1L of fresh filtered water, cover and leave to infuse for 2-3 hours, ideally in the sun.

References

Isted M. The Herball’s Guide to Botanical Drinks. Quarto Publishing Group:London. 2017. p.168
Hornby M. Official Leader Handbook. Junior Herbalist Club. c2023. https://www.juniorherbalistclub.com/