Herbal Medicine

We were proud to partner with the Naturopaths & Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) for the largest event in their calendar, the Naturopathic Symposium 2023, held in Melbourne. The event was brimming with clinical pearls of wisdom delivered by some of the most skilled and respected naturopaths from Australia and internationally. In a keynote presentation delivered on the first day, Dr Sue Evans and Dr Joanna Harnett discussed the impact of science on herbal medicine. Both presenters are distinguished in their chosen fields and have received many accolades for their dedication to herbal medicine. A life member of the NHAA, Dr Evans has been working with herbal medicine for nearly four decades. She is currently a senior lecturer in complementary medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Tasmania. Dr Harnett is a senior lecturer within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney’s Pharmacy School whose central focus is to contribute to fostering the appropriate and safe use of complementary medicines and building the evidence base. She is a member of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration Advisory Committee for Complementary Medicines. Dr Evans made an impassioned plea for the future of traditional herbal medicine while Dr Harnett complemented her view with a dive into science and evidence-based herbal medicine. 

Dr Evans said when the herbal medicine fraternity decided to “fight science with science” the emphasis on phytochemistry and evidence-based medicine meant the way herbalists prescribed and manufactured changed and “other things went by the wayside…The dominance of science means we’re ignoring the humanities.” She suggested modern herbalists could think about herbs in a broader context and understand the cultural connection of herbs through the lens of subjects such as history, literature and music. Dr Evans emphasised the importance of 12th Century abbess Hildegard of Bingen’s concept of viriditas, or vital energy, saying vitalism is a moral imperative that has been suppressed. “Herbs are special because they treat life with life. We have a different attitude to ethics when we think about this…such as the ethics of sustainability. It becomes more human centred and we ask: What’s our responsibility to non-human life forms?” she said. She also encouraged the audience to ask themselves “What does it mean to be an Australian herbalist and what is our contribution to society?” taking into consideration the relationship with colonisation and using herbs not of our land. This led to the field of bioethics and questions about the commodification of native plants. Dr Evans’ summation was that herbalists of today need to “think differently” and “ask ethical questions and look at herbs more broadly”. “Science led us out of the dark ages but we have different challenges now such as climate change and political problems. The thinking that got us here won’t fix them.” 

Dr Harnett began by asking what is actually meant by the word science. She gave a detailed description saying it goes beyond the reductionist philosophy. She highlighted the importance of “repetition, critical analysis and verification, and testing which includes critical exposure to scrutiny, peer review and assessment.” Her guiding principles were from the father of modern medicine himself, Hippocrates, who said “The greatest medicine of all is teaching people how not to need it” referring to the impact of preventative medicine. But when they do get sick then stimulating the self-healing process and respecting the “healing power of nature” (vis medicatrix naturae) is imperative in all facets of naturopathic assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Most importantly Dr Harnett said the principle of naturopathy primum nocere (“First do no harm” Hippocrates) means naturopaths should utilise practices, therapeutics and treatment which minimise the risk of harmful effects. Both speakers agreed that the takeaway message is that it is important for practitioners to ask their herbal medicine manufacturers questions. So, here at the Herbal Extract Company, we are ready and waiting to comply.

In modern times maritime pine is famed for its ability to fight inflammation, stimulate immune system action, ease swelling and exert antioxidant effects. The most extensively studied use of maritime pine is to treat cardiovascular health, especially improvement of endothelial (the thin layer of cells that lines blood vessels) function and chronic venous insufficiency, a condition defined by poor drainage of blood from veins resulting in swelling or skin problems. However, this claim to fame harks back to the frigid winter of 1536 at Stadacona (now Quebec City) when French explorer Jacques Cartier's critically ill crew were cured from scurvy, a severe deficiency of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), by drinking a decoction from the native American Indian tribe, the Iroquois. Four centuries later during a sabbatical at the University of Quebec Professor Jacques Masquelier, of the University of Bordeaux in France, heard about Cartier's account and this turned his attention to the antioxidant proanthocyanidins of conifer bark. He was investigating a group of substances called flavanols which he originally found in peanut skins. Masquelier found that these substances have beneficial effects in the body particularly in improving circulation and repairing tissue. Maritime pine is found around Masquelier’s home region Bordeaux so when he went for a walk one day, on his return home from Quebec, he took a piece of bark from a tree which reminded him of peanut skin. Masquelier and his colleagues came to regard the pine bark as a huge peanut skin and found that an abundant source of these substances was also in the bark of the pine trees that grew on these coasts of southern France.

Masquelier referred to proanthocyanidins as pycnogenols. This term was used to describe an entire group of procyanidin complexes found in a variety of plants including pine bark, grape seed, peanuts and citrus peel. The term pycnogenol is now considered obsolete in the scientific community to describe these compounds giving way to the terms procyanidins, oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) and/or procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs). Pycnogenol is now a patented trade name for a water extract of the PCO of bark of the maritime pine commonly grown in the coastal southwest of France (Pinus pinaster ssp. atlantica). Concentrated standardised extracts like Pycnogenol are not the same as whole plant (broad or full spectrum) maritime pine bark medicine in the same way that curcumin is not the same as using whole plant turmeric and cannabidiol is not the same as using full spectrum cannabis. For example when Pycnogenol is manufactured the fresh outer bark is powdered and extracted with 70% ethanol and 30% water in patented equipment allowing an automated continuous process. After purification (there is no further information on how this is done on the manufacturer’s website) of the raw extract the aqueous solution of the extracted constituents is spray dried to a fine brownish powder during the standardisation process. According to the manufacturer 1000kg of maritime pine bark yields 1kg of Pycnogenol, making it 1000:1 (1kg equals 1g). In comparison The Herbal Extract Company make a 1:2 maritime pine extract, in 60% ethanol and 40% water, using continuous cold flow percolation in a simple process with no standardisation, heat or vacuum. The result is that 1ml (1g) of extract yields 500mg of maritime pine bark which is a very different, yet more sustainable, method of extraction. To get the equivalent 500mg of Pycnogenol you would need half a kilogram of maritime pine bark which is 500 times the amount The Herbal Extract Company use. 

The vast majority of the research on maritime pine is proprietary and geared at promoting the trademarked Pycnogenol and its associated products. It appears in the literature that the terms Pycnogenol and pine bark extract are used interchangeably. This makes it extremely challenging to write a highlight about a full spectrum maritime extract because there is a dearth of information. The Herbal Extract Company’s aim is not to be misleading and partake in “borrowed science” concerning the specific health benefits from researched Pycnogenol products, for the purpose of associating this science with full spectrum maritime pine bark. However, it is a fact that full spectrum maritime pine bark also contains these antioxidants along with other vitamins and phytonutrients. Previous studies have demonstrated that other maritime pine bark extracts also possess remarkable antioxidant activities similar to Pycnogenol. The research associated with these isolated active constituents is interesting because it suggests there is potential in using full spectrum extracts which mirror the natural, balanced phytochemical profile of chemical compounds of the original dry herbal material. The advantage of a full spectrum extract is that, when extracted in a balanced way, the synergistic activity of all the constituents allows the key compounds (OPCs) to work effectively for the patient.

References

HEC maritime pine monograph

Oak bark, from the common oak tree, has been used as a medicine since ancient times and its virtues were recorded by Dioscorides between about 50 to 70 AD in his fundamental work, De materia medica, a five-volume Greek encyclopedia about herbal medicine and related medicinal substances (a pharmacopoeia). In the spirit of traditional medicine, the principal uses according to Dioscorides are still relevant today: stomach problems, dysentery, spitting blood and bleeding from the womb. The German Commission E approved oak bark for coughs and chronic bronchitis, general inflammation in the mouth or pharynx as well as diarrhoea. Dr Rudolf Weiss recommends a compress for weeping eczema, ulcers on the legs, contact dermatitis in the early weeping stage, inflammatory eye conditions and inflamed haemorrhoids. 

Oak bark contains a high percentage of tannins which give it powerful astringent properties, toning mucous membranes throughout the body and protecting them from irritation and infection. These compounds bind with tissue proteins making them impermeable to bacterial invasion and infection while at the same time strengthening the tissues. By clearing catarrh, and toning mucous membranes in the digestive tract, it aids digestion and absorption. By toning muscles throughout the circulatory system it is useful for haemorrhoids and varicose veins. When taken internally oak bark acts as a diuretic flushing excess fluid from the body. This helps flush out kidney stones and treats bladder infections by increasing urinary output. Externally, a cold compress can be made with the liquid extract to help speed up the healing process for minor wounds, cuts, scrapes, burns, mouth ulcers and herpes. Oak bark should not be used long term. 

Oak is an impressive tree both in terms of its imposing appearance and its longevity. It can live for more than a millennium according to some sources and grow up to 40m high. The doctrine of signatures states that a plant’s shape, colour, markings or essence is a visual clue to the organ or bodily function that the plant has the capacity to heal. According to Matthew Wood instead of tedious memorisation of the various uses of a plant, the doctrine of signatures offers in many (though not all) cases a reliable system of connecting the herb with its remedial use through symbolic association. “In traditional herbalism, especially before the advent of writing, herbal knowledge was often passed on by the use of signatures, to help the student understand the logic of the plant and remember its use.” Wood suggests oak’s signature is the Earth element (cold and dry). “Earthly processes are slow and grounded. They provide the primal bedrock on which life is to be built…The root is the Earth element part of the plant because it goes downwards, into the ground, and it interacts with the mineral realm. Thus, plants that have large roots, heavy, thick barks, and powerful structure are Earth plants, like the oak tree. The oak sends down a huge root system which is usually about twice the circumference of the above-ground canopy of the plant. Above the earth it produces powerful, thick, strong wood covered with a heavy, strong bark. Barks are usually associated with tannins, the puckering agents that provide our astringents in herbalism. Hence, oak is a powerful astringent.  It is puckering, contracting, strengthening, and consolidating like the Earth element.”

References

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

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

McIntyre A. The Complete Woman’s Herbal. Gai Books Limited:London. 1994. p. 157

Wood M. The Doctrine of Signatures. Hpathy Medical Publishers c2023 (updated 17 Oct 2016; accessed 17 May 2023). Available from https://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/the-doctrine-of-signatures/

Prickly ash is an aromatic tree that, as its name suggests, is covered with very strong prickles. Its bark has a rich history of use as a herb for stimulating the circulation, the lymphatic system and mucous membranes. Another common name for Zanthoxylum is yellow wood, zanthos being the Greek word for yellow. The berries of this North American tree are being investigated as a suitable substitute for Sichuan pepper (from various species of Chinese prickly ash), which is the foundation flavour in five spice powder used in Asian cooking. Prickly ash is also commonly known as toothache tree, or tickle tongue, due to the analgesic properties of its bark. Native cultures from around the world including Native American, African, South Asian and Chinese traditions have used prickly ash to treat toothache, arthritis and pain for hundreds of years. New Zealand medical herbalist Richard Whelan says: “Simply take a small amount of prickly ash tincture, drip it into a wad of cotton until soaked, and hold directly against the sore tooth. Pain should be relieved within minutes.” The two most common sites of treatment by prickly ash, the teeth and joints, are richly innervated by pain fibres, suggesting that chemicals within prickly ash may directly target peripheral pain neurons.

The same compounds that give echinacea its characteristic numbing tingle, alkylamides, are found in prickly ash bark as well. Alkylamides are secondary metabolites found in several medicinal plants belonging to different families. Plants containing alkylamides are used as spices for their pungent and tingling sensations. According to researchers “Zanthoxylum bark, leaves, and fruit capsules pack a one-two punch of [flavour] and tongue-numbing. As a member of the Rutaceae, the family that includes oranges, grapefruits, and kumquats, the citrusy [flavours] of limonene, citronellal, methyl cinnamate, and cineol are expected, but the numbing property is unique to the genus. That anesthetic response is due to alkamides derived from polyunsaturated carboxylic acids, most likely tetradecapentaenoic acid with isobutylamin, also known as hydroxy sanshool. Sanshool apparently acts like some other [anaesthetics] by activating sensory neurons and inhibiting background potassium conductance.”

As a circulatory stimulant prickly ash is used when there is sluggish circulation such as in chilblains, cramps in the legs (including night cramps), varicose veins, varicose ulcers, Raynaud’s syndrome and erectile dysfunction. It is also indicated in other chronic inflammatory disorders marked by deficient circulation such as joint diseases like rheumatism and arthritis. It is said to be similar to cayenne (Capsicum frutescens) although slower in action. It combines well with devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) for arthritis and with ginger (Zingiber officinale) to improve circulation and help shift deep-seated conditions in the joints or tissues.

References

Maier K. Energetic Herbalism. Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing. 2021. p. 293

Putz FE, Patel N. Florida Szechuan pepper: A financial opportunity. The Palmetto. 2019;35: 4-7.

Tsunozaki M, Lennertz RC, Vilceanu D, Katta S, Stucky CL, Bautista DM. A 'toothache tree' alkylamide inhibits Aδ mechanonociceptors to alleviate mechanical pain. J Physiol. 2013 Jul 1;591(13):3325-40. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.252106. Epub 2013 May 7. PMID: 23652591; PMCID: PMC3717230.

The Difference Between Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) and Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides).

Both black and blue cohosh share a similar common name, American Indian heritage and their roots have historically been used to treat women's health conditions however the similarities end there. In fact the two herbs, which bear little physical similarity to one another, do not even come from the same genus and family of plants. According to the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) blue cohosh monograph “these are taxonomically unrelated plants that are not typically confused.” Previously known as Cimicifuga racemosa, black cohosh is from the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup, family making it a cousin of pulsatilla (Anemone pulsatilla) which it has similarities to and can be substituted for. It is a tall hardy wildflower which has long, wand-like white flowers. Blue cohosh is from the Berberidaceae, or barberry family. The plant has dark blue berries and small, white flowers. According to Lloyd and Lloyd (1931), ‘cohosh’ is an Algonquin Indian word meaning ‘it is rough’ (with hairs).

Black cohosh is considered ‘the menopause herb’ however it also has a long history of being used for the nervous system. While it is useful for stressed menopausal women its anodyne and sedative properties can help nerve and muscle pain. Black cohosh is effective in relieving headaches, tinnitus, menstrual cramps and symptoms brought about by hormonal imbalances.

Blue cohosh is generally classed as a uterine tonic. Historically it was used to prepare the uterus for labour (partus praeparator), for period pain and for various ‘inflammations’ of the uterus. 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. The AHP monograph 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

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

HEC black cohosh monograph

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

Medicinal hydrangea is a wild variety and has little in common with the dramatic blue and pink garden hydrangeas with their showy pompom flower heads. It is also known by the common name seven barks which refers to the peculiar characteristic of its stem bark, which peels off in seven thin layers of different colours. The genus name Hydrangea means water vessel. While this refers to hydrangea being a marsh or aquatic plant, it also attests to its medicinal activity.   

Hydrangea root is a diuretic herb traditionally used by Cherokee Indians for improving the health of both the bladder and the kidney, which remove excess water and waste from the body. It is reputed to be effective in a large range of urinary problems such as urinary stones and infections, including cystitis and urethritis. Internationally renowned herbalist David Hoffman says hydrangea’s greatest use is in the treatment of inflamed or enlarged prostate glands. Hoffman’s contemporary and author of The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine, Simon Mills, agrees saying: “However it is for prostatitis that it has been most recommended. It may be seen as a useful complement to saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and/or damiana (Turnera diffusa) in supportive prescriptions for senescence [the process of growing old] and infirmity in men.” In her modern herbal classic Common Herbs for Natural Health, the late Juliette de Bairacli Levy adds that it is “a mild and soothing herb, effective in rheumatic troubles and glandular disorders.”        

In her eponymous book about herbal medicine (1988), the late Dorothy Hall included hydrangea in her materia medica of person pictures. She called it the “messy divorce” herb: “Hydrangea can become set in a pattern of bitterness and cynicism…often holding on to grudges, resentments and old hurts…if you don’t want to carry a load of heavy stones in your emotional water vessel, hydrangea may be a necessary ingredient in your individual mixture.” Hall prescribed hydrangea with herbs such as horsetail (Equisetum arvense) and uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) to soften, chemically change or loosen gravel and stone. Hoffman combines it with uva ursi and gravel root (Eupatorium purpureum) for kidney stones and horsetail for prostate problems.

References

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Middlesex:Penguin Books. 1978. p. 424

Hylton, W ed. The Rodale Herb Book. Rodale Press, 1974. p. 474 http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hydran45.html

Hoffmann D. The New Holistic Herbal. Element:Dorest. 1990. p. 207

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin:London. 1991. p.520

de Bairacli Levy J. Common Herbs for Natural Health. Ash Tree Publishing:New York. 1997. p.87

Hall D. Dorothy Hall’s Herbal Medicine. Sydney:Lothian. 1988. p. 203-6

A member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), along with potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants, Capsicum frutescens is also known as cayenne pepper, or tabasco pepper, whereas Capsicum annum is known as, depending on the variety, paprika, chilli or capsicum (the larger, bell shaped fruit that has a sweet taste). To say cayenne is hot is an understatement. It packs a potent punch that knocks your socks off. This thrills some and dismays others. The modern use of the word “spicy” as a synonym for “hot” is almost entirely the fault of cayenne. Despite its potency cayenne is perhaps one of our most underestimated herbs. Dr. Richard Shulze, one of America’s foremost authorities on herbal medicine says “If you master only one herb in your life, master cayenne pepper. It is more powerful than anything else.” Energetically it is dramatic, being intensely warming and drying. This means it is best suited to people who tend to be cool.

The fruit pungency is due to alkaloid compounds known as capsaicinoids. They are commonly called capsaicin because it is the most prevalent among the seven capsaicinoids. It is thought this alkaloid evolved, as did many other plant alkaloids, as a protection against predators. Since capsaicin is oil soluble and not soluble in water, drinking it does not help relieve the hot sensation. Instead, thick cream, milk or yoghurt is said to neutralise the burn. This is not only due to the fats present but also the casein, a protein found in dairy products, which strips the capsaicin molecules from the receptors and “puts out the fire”. Pungency is dependent on the genetic makeup of the plant and other environmental factors. Among the cultivated peppers C. frutescens is the highest and C. annuum is the most variable in pungency.

Cayenne is a circulatory stimulant that can be taken internally in very small amounts, or applied topically, to enhance circulation and blood flow. It can be used for cold hands and feet when there is insufficient peripheral circulation, for debility, warding off colds and to support a healthy heart. It may also be useful for weight loss where it increases satiety, and therefore may be helpful in preventing overeating. The pungent principles are thought to stimulate and aid digestion, useful for flatulent dyspepsia, and to act as a counterirritant when applied externally, in the form of a cream, ointment or plaster, for problems such as rheumatic pains where it has a paradoxical action. A recent Cochrane review found that when cayenne is topically applied as a plaster or cream it appears to reduce pain more than placebo and could be considered as a treatment option for chronic low back pain.

References

de la Forêt R. Cayenne Monograph. Herb Mentor c2023 LearningHerbs.com (updated 5 Apr 2021; accessed 3 Apr 2023). Available from https://herbmentor.learningherbs.com/herb/cayenne/

Mills S. The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Penguin:London. 1991. p.421

Saleh BK, Omer A, Teweldemedhin B. Medicinal uses and health benefits of chili pepper (Capsicum spp.): a review. MOJ Food Processing & Technology. 2018;6.

O’Connell J. The Book of Spice. Profile Books:London. 2015 p.67

Bynum H, Bynum W. Remarkable Plants That Shape Our World. Thames & Hudson:London. 2014. p.66.

Saleh BK, Omer A, Teweldemedhin B. Medicinal uses and health benefits of chili pepper (Capsicum spp.): a review. MOJ Food Processing & Technology. 2018;6.

Due to a shortage of black walnut 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. 

Traditionally black walnut leaf was used as a laxative and vermifuge to help remove intestinal pinworms and threadworms. As an alterative is also useful in the treatment of skin diseases such as acne, cold sores, warts, eczema, psoriasis and ulcers which do not heal quickly. Black walnut is a cousin to butternut (Juglans cinerea), or white walnut, which has similar actions and the same procurement issues.

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): Clove is typically used alongside black walnut and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) to take care of parasite eggs which can hatch later and cause re-infection.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Garlic is an effective remedy against bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections. In the digestive tract it has been found that garlic will support the development of the natural bacterial flora whilst killing pathogenic organisms.

Nigella (Nigella sativa): While the panacea herb, nigella, might not be the first herb to think of as a substitute for black walnut it has been used traditionally for the treatment of a variety of disorders, diseases and conditions relating to the digestive tract and liver function. A tincture prepared from the seeds has been used in the treatment of worms and skin eruptions.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): Wormwood is a potent bitter herb used, as the name suggests, to expel intestinal worms. It promotes the appetite and enhances digestion by stimulating peristalsis and increasing the secretion of digestive enzymes and bile from the liver and gallbladder. It is an excellent remedy for dyspeptic complaints including stomach disorders, gastritis, liver and gallbladder ailments. It also has a general tonic action.

Yellow dock (Rumex crispus): Yellow dock has a long history of use for stimulating liver function. It has a powerful cleansing and cooling effect on the body making it an excellent remedy for inflammatory skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis. The bowel cleansing action of yellow dock is very mild, and it is generally considered one of the safest herbs to use long term when the liver and bowel need some stimulation. It is a mild version of cascara sagrada (Frangula purshiana) or rhubarb (Rheum palmatum), which could also be used as substitutes for black walnut.

References

SPetre A. Black Walnuts: A Nutritious Nut Reviewed. Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company c2005-2022 (updated 29 March 2019; accessed 21 Nov 2022). Available from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/black-walnut#uses

Hoffmann D. Medical Herbalism. Rochester: Healing Arts Press. 2003. p. 526

Ahmad A, Husain A, Mujeeb M, Khan SA, Najmi AK, Siddique NA, Damanhouri ZA, Anwar F. A review on therapeutic potential of Nigella sativa: A miracle herb. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 May;3(5):337-52. doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60075-1. PMID: 23646296; PMCID: PMC3642442.

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

McIntyre A. The Complete Woman’s Herbal. Gai Books Limited:London. 1994. p. 128

Mills S. The Complete Guide to Modern Herbalism. Thorsons:London. 1994. p.444

Mugwort is a common weed in Europe and Great Britain which resulted in it becoming a popular flavouring agent for homebrews long before hops was the preferred plant used in beers. As Maud Grieve said, in A Modern Herbal (1931), “mugwort abounds on hedgebanks and waysides in most parts of England.” Grieve said mugwort’s common name is derived from its reputation as a brewing herb - a mug full of wort (medicinal herb). However, she also suggests that the name may stem not from mug, the drinking vessel, but from moughte (a moth or maggot) because, from the days of Dioscorides (a Greek physician who wrote De Materia Medica in the first century AD), the plant has been regarded as useful in repelling attacks by moths and other insects, not unlike its close ally wormwood (Artemisia absinthium).

Mugwort’s botanical name hints at its affinity for menstrual and reproductive health. Artemis is the Greek goddess of childbirth and the moon (the word menstruation comes from the Latin and Greek words for month and moon), and mugwort has been used as a supportive herb for uterine and reproductive health across many herbal traditions. It may be used as an emmenagogue and to aid normal menstrual flow. It can also facilitate childbirth by regulating and strengthening contractions and helping bring away the afterbirth. 

As a warming bitter, mugwort can stimulate circulation, digestion and menses while simultaneously easing muscle cramping and stagnation. It supports digestion through bitter stimulation while also possessing carminative properties. As a result it has been used traditionally for treating gynaecological ailments and gastrointestinal diseases resulting from cold including delayed menses, stomach pain, diarrhoea, flatulence and intestinal colic.

References

Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. Penguin:London; 1980. p. 556

McIntyre A. The Complete Women’s Herbal. London: Gaia Books Limited, 1994. p. 9.

Ekiert H, Pajor J, Klin P, Rzepiela A, Ślesak H, Szopa A. Significance of Artemisia Vulgaris L. (Common Mugwort) in the History of Medicine and Its Possible Contemporary Applications Substantiated by Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies. Molecules. 2020 Sep 25;25(19):4415. doi: 10.3390/molecules25194415. PMID: 32992959; PMCID: PMC7583039.

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