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An Interesting Herb Fact
Mint: The Traditional Herbalist's Best Friend
Mint is one of the herbalist's best friends: there appears to be at least thirty species of mint, and all can be used in a number of herbal remedies that are safe and effective. Mint has become so common that some people even forget its history as an herbal remedy. Up until the 17th century, herbalists used most varieties of mint in more or less the same way. But now herbalists have expressed definite preferences toward some kinds of mint. Today it appears that peppermint has gained favor with...
Goldenseal -- A Traditional Native American Herb
with Many Uses
Goldenseal, Latin name
Hydrastis canadensis, is one of the most popular herbs used in herbal
remedies today. Goldenseal has traditionally operated as a traditional
healing herb of Native Americans but it has entered the European herbal
cabinet with zeal. Traditionally, the Cherokee used goldenseal as an
herbal treatment for indigestion, local inflammations, and to improve
appetite. The Iroquois, meanwhile, used Goldenseal to treat heart
problems, liver disorders, and whooping cough and to treat fevers.
Goldenseal reached European shores by 1760. During the nineteenth
century, Goldenseal had become a popular favorite with practitioners of
the Eclectic and Thomsonian schools of medicine. In 1926, Goldenseal
was included in the list of United States medicinal ingredients in the
Pharmacopoeia.
The character of Goldenseal has alternately been described as bitter,
dry, astringent, and cold. The plants constituents are described as
resins, volatile oils, and alkaloids. Herbalists traditionally describe
the actions of Goldenseal as astringent, a digestive and bile
stimulant, a tonic, and a laxative. Goldenseal has also been used to
reduce phlegm, to heal gastric mucous membranes, and to raise blood
pressure.
The part of the Goldenseal plant that is most commonly used is the
rhizome. The rhizome is traditionally harvested in the fall, and it is
the main ingredient in many herbal remedies. Many traditional
herbalists recommend the rhizome of the Goldenseal plant as an
excellent drying and mucus-reducing remedy that works well for the
gastric, upper respiratory tract. It is also used for the vaginal
mucous membranes. The rhizome of the Goldenseal plant is also used to
treat conditions involving the spastic colon (mucous colitis), nasal
inflammations, and ear infections. In essence, Goldenseal is very much
an herbal remedy for ear, nose and throat problems. But it has many
other applications as well. The Goldenseal plant is often used as an
herbal remedy to treat gynecological problems. It can help reduce the
severity of menopausal symptoms, and it has been known to ease the pain
associated with premenstrual symptoms, especially symptoms linked to
stagnation. The rhizome of the Goldenseal plant can often be found in
commercial herbal remedies as a tonic.
Even though Goldenseal has proven itself to be a very effective healing
herb, there are some cautions you use take when ingesting herbal
remedies that feature Goldenseal as one of its main ingredients. For
instance, Goldenseal is well known as a powerful uterine stimulant, so
its use should be avoided women who are pregnant. Goldenseal is also
well known as a hypertensive, so it should be avoided in known cases of
high blood pressure. Also, you should not use herbal remedies
containing Goldenseal for an ear infection if you know that there is a
risk that an eardrum is perforated. Another caveat: avoid ingesting
fresh Goldenseal plant. Eating fresh Golden seal plant has been known
to cause ulceration of the mucous membranes. It is a very potent plant.
Also, if you suffer from digestive complaints, many herbalists
recommend that you take barberry for these types of complaints because
Goldenseal has recently become very endangered in the wild. |
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