Methow Valley Herbs

Turmeric: "A medicine cabinet in a curry bowl."

2012-01-28T12:44:00.000-08:00

Turmeric

Botanical name: Curcuma longa

Plant family: Zingiberaceae

Parts used: rhizome and tuber

Western herbalists mostly use the rhizome. Chinese medicine uses the rhizome as well as the tuber. These plant parts are used differently. This article focuses on the rhizome.

Energetics: Warming and drying, bitter and spicy/pungent

Actions: Analgesic, blood mover, cholagogue, antioxidant, astringent, carminative, anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, vulnerary, antispasmodic

My mentor, Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, is sometimes called “Haldi Baba", which, in India, means "Sir Turmeric". Everyone who knows KP knows this is his favorite herb. And I can see why! This potent yellow root is helpful for so many different ailments it’s no wonder he calls this “the medicine cabinet in a curry bowl.”

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years for countless ailments. In recent years it has also caught the attention of western researchers and there are many studies touting its many benefits.

In this article we’ll look at turmeric’s benefits for

Digestion and the liver (Ulcers, diverticulitis, flatulence, leaky gut)

Heart heath (High blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol)

Immune support (Cancer, colds and flu, bronchitis)

Musculoskeletal strength and flexibility (Joint disorders, arthritis, pain)

Nervous system (Pain, Alzheimer's)

Wound healing and healthy skin (Eczema, psoriasis)

Diabetes and Menstruation difficulties

Turmeric is pretty astonishing! Let’s take a closer look.

Digestion and the Liver

Turmeric is a warming herb that promotes digestive secretions. It helps to relieve gas and has strong anti-inflammatory abilities to soothe the inflammation in the digestive tract. These attributes explain why it is used for diverticulitis, colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Its astringent qualities tighten and tone the digestive tract, making it a great ally in cases of a leaky gut. Turmeric is often used for ulcers because it tones the surface of the ulceration, decreases inflammation, stops bleeding, and helps to prevent infection. These same qualities make this a great herb for inflammation and pain associated with hemorrhoids and anal fissures. It can be used externally and internally for this. Be warned that turmeric will stain everything it touches yellow!

Turmeric is a cholagogue, which is an herb that promotes bile secretion from the gallbladder and liver. Using turmeric regularly can help prevent gallstones although it is recommended by the German Commission E to avoid using turmeric if gallstones are present.

The doctrine of signatures tells us that yellow herbs benefit the liver and indeed turmeric has been used for thousands of years in Ayurveda and is one of their most highly used herbs for the liver. According to Ayurvedic herbalist David Frawley, combining turmeric with barberry (Berberis vulgaris) will move a stagnant liver in a similar way to the often used bupleurum (Bupleurum chinense) of China.

Turmeric will stimulate bile flow in the liver. Bile is an important part of the digestive process and notably helps with the digestion of fats. It contains hepatoprotective properties that can help to prevent cirrhosis and other harmful processes in the liver.

Turmeric is an amazing antioxidant. One of the ways we benefit from taking turmeric regularly is that it acts against harmful carcinogens like cigarette smoke and other environmental toxins. Using turmeric regularly can help our liver to efficiently process metabolic wastes.

It also supports healthy intestinal flora, aiding healthy digestion and a healthy immune system. It is used by some herbalists in cases of yeast infections or candida overgrowth.

Heart Health

Turmeric can help to normalize cholesterol levels. It prevents cholesterol from oxidizing, which is a process that can damage blood vessels. Scientific studies say that turmeric reduces blood clotting, increases circulation and decreases high blood pressure. My mentors recommend it following heart surgery such as angioplasty and bypass surgery.

Immune support

There are countless studies showing that turmeric can prevent cancer as well as stop cancer from metastasizing. I recently saw a TED talk where angiogenesis researcher William Li explained how we can eat to starve cancer. Angiogenesis is the growth of blood vessels, something that happens normally in humans. However, sometimes this process is too little (resulting in wounds that won’t heal for example) while too much angiogenesis can result in many chronic diseases, notably cancer.

Li highlighted turmeric as a substance that beneficially effected angiogenesis by inhibiting the growth of cancers. Like so many herbs, turmeric has the ability to normalize function. While it can stop excessive angiogenesis it can also promote angiogenesis when necessary! Besides regulating the growth of blood vessels, turmeric can also promote the growth of blood cells, making it a good therapy for anemia.

Turmeric is also used for many symptoms of the cold and flu, bronchitis and sore throats, including prevention. KP Khalsa says that turmeric provides broad immune system support.

Fresh turmeric rhizome

Musculoskeletal health, strength and flexibility

Turmeric is an exceptional herb for the musculoskeletal system. It is commonly used for chronic joint conditions such as arthritis.

Turmeric is a strong anti-inflammatory herb. It can rebuild joints and even decrease pain. It can be used in acute injuries as well to improve circulation to the area, reduce any excessive inflammation and reduce pain.

For those with chronic arthritis and other joint problems who also have a lot of dryness, it is recommended to combine turmeric with ghee or marshmallow root to offset its inherent drying qualities.

Turmeric can be taken preventively to keep the musculoskeletal system healthy. Yogis take turmeric to support tendons and ligaments and promote flexibility.

Turmeric really does stand out as a pain remedy. Besides reducing inflammation it also depletes nerve endings of substance P, which communicates the pain signal. Besides being taken internally it also has been used externally for sore joints and sprains. Be warned though, it will temporarily stain your skin yellow. To use it effectively for chronic pain and inflammation, take it daily for a period of time.

Turmeric can also be used to heal from surgery. It can stabilize connective tissue and promote the healing of tissues while lessening scars and adhesions.

Nervous system

Like rosemary, turmeric has been in the research spotlight recently, showing its propensity to prevent Alzheimer's. Some theorize this is why India has significantly lower rates of Alzheimer’s.

Wound healing and healthy skin

Turmeric can be used internally and externally to promote healthy skin. It’s regularly used for acne, eczema, psoriasis, and to heal wounds.

The powdered root can stop bleeding fast; simply apply it to the wound.

Turmeric can heal fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot. To do this a paste is made from the powder and apply externally. And, by now, hopefully you know the warning... it will temporarily stain your skin and anything else it comes into contact with.

In India turmeric is frequently used for toothaches and to heal gums.

Diabetes (type 1)

Turmeric is frequently used in Ayurvedic herbalism for people with diabetes. Its strong anti-inflammatory properties are important in this inflammatory disease. It further helps by lowering blood sugar and increasing glucose metabolism.

Menstrual Pain

Turmeric is used to treat a variety of symptoms associated with menstruation. As a blood mover it moves stagnant blood and reduces clots. It also works as an antispasmodic on smooth muscle tissue, helping to relieve pain associated with cramping.

It does all that AND...

It is said to repel ants as well. Seems like every summer people in the HerbMentor.com forums are wondering how to repel ants. I am hoping someone will try it this year so we can hear first hand how it goes.

Remember all those warnings about turmeric staining your skin and everything else it comes in contact with? Well it turns out turmeric is a great dye. Here's an article I wrote on dying scarves with turmeric.

Turmeric used to be employed to detect alkalinity. Chemists in the 1870’s found out that the root changed color when exposed to alkaline chemicals. For many years turmeric paper was used to test for alkalinity. Eventually it was replaced by litmus paper.

Botanical description

Turmeric grows in the warm tropics. India grows 80% of the world’s turmeric. The United States is the largest importer of turmeric, most of which is used to make commercial mustard yellow.

Turmeric is a perennial plant. Its flowers grow on a spike and range from white to yellow to pink. Turmeric can be 3-5 feet tall. The leaves are long and smooth and taper at the end. If you live in a warm area where turmeric is grown the leaves can be picked fresh and used to wrap food while cooking. Herbalist Susan Marynowski tells me it’s possible to grow turmeric in Florida.

Turmeric flower

The rhizomes have a tough brown sheath covering the bright orange yellow flesh. The rhizomes are harvested in the fall and propagated through root cuttings. Most rhizomes are dried and then powdered for use.

I have seen whole fresh turmeric for sale in health food stores around the country. You might try asking your local stores if they can carry it fresh. Besides being able to work with this plant in its whole form you can also use this for tincturing or simply adding it to meals.

Considerations when using turmeric

Although turmeric comes from distant lands it is widely available for an affordable price. To get the most out of your turmeric add 3% black pepper to the mix. Black pepper improves the bioavailability of turmeric, making smaller doses more effective.

It’s impossible to read about the plant turmeric without also hearing about one of its constituents, curcumin. If you walk into any health food store you will see many different options for the standardized extract of curcumin.

Here’s what my mentors KP Khalsa and Michael Tierra have to say about curcumin in their book The Way of Ayurveda Herbs:

Curcumin is the compound that makes turmeric yellow. It is the most researched constituent of the herb and is mainly responsible for turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties. It is unlikely, however, that curcumin accounts for the totality of the broad spectrum action of the herb. Subjectively, herbalists say that for many conditions, they have seen better results with the whole herb than with the curcumin alone.

Turmeric can be taken at various doses. KP Khalsa recommends 1 gram to 30 grams of the powder depending on the person and the situation. It’s always best to use the smallest dose necessary so it’s best to start low and work up. If a person takes too much turmeric nausea will result.

I generally recommend using turmeric anywhere from 3-10 grams per day, along with the black pepper.

Keep in mind that turmeric is warming and drying and may exacerbate hot and dry conditions. It is often combined with ghee or demulcent herbs to offset this effect.

Turmeric used in curries and cooking is probably safe for everyone. However, there are some considerations for using turmeric in therapeutic doses.

The following people should avoid turmeric

people who are currently taking blood thinners
people who have blood clotting disorders
people who have known gallstones (although this is controversial)
women who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Turmeric will also stain everything it touches a golden yellow (your hands, cutting board, counters, etc).

Some ways to enjoy turmeric

You can use it liberally when cooking or as part of a curry mix

1 tsp powder stirred into water or warmed milk

Mix the powder with honey to form a paste

Tincture turmeric (although I recommend using whole turmeric and not the powder for this. Unless you use the percolation method for tincture making.)

Here are some recipes I learned I learned from my mentor Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa.

Golden Turmeric Paste

1/4 cup of turmeric

1 teaspoon of ground black pepper

water

This can then be mixed with heated milk.

Can add it to smoothies.

Can be mixed into honey

Can be mixed into honey plus ghee or coconut milk

Can be spread onto a sandwich

1) Golden Milk: increase turmeric proportion if desired. Prepare in two parts:

a) Prepare a golden yellow tumeric paste by adding a 1/4 cup of turmeric powder to 1/2 cup of pure water and boil in a saucepan until a thick paste is formed. This paste may be stored in the refrigerator.

b) After the paste is made, for each cup of golden milk, blend together I cup of milk, I teaspoon almond oil or any vegetable oil, 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric paste prepared above (or more if necessary), and honey to taste. While stiffing on a low heat, bring the milk just to the boiling point. The mixture may then be blended in an electric blender to make a beautiful foamy drink. Fruit may be added before blending. Serve with a little cinnamon sprinkled on top.

2) Stir in water/milk/juice/tea. Swallow quickly.

3) Stir into sweetener (honey, maple syrup) to make a paste, swallow from spoon.

4) Mix with thick, strong tasting food (i.e. peanut butter), swallow.

5) Mix with water to form soft paste. Spoon to the back of throat. Swallow. Follow with water/juice/tea.

Turmeric Blend

1/2 pint sesame tahini

2 lbsp. sesame oil (or other)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 to 1/2 cup turmeric powder

Sandwich: Make turmeric paste as in golden milk recipe. Spread paste 1/4' thick on both slices of broad. Add condiments: lettuce, parsley, ctc. Include cucumber slices. Close and eat.

This article was originally written for HerbMentor.com. If you enjoyed the article, you'll also love HerbMentor!

Treat Yourself! A weekend retreat

2012-01-17T15:52:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announce our second annual herbal and yoga retreat taking place March 16th - 18th, 2012.

Awaken to the vitality of spring with a weekend of nourishing food, herbs and yogic presence.

We will use food as medicine, preparing simple ayurvedic recipes and herbal teas, supplementing this with asana and pranayama practice, sauna time and silence. Support body and mind as we move into the season of heightened energy and activity!

The retreat will be led by

Becky Studen, certified yoga teacher, has studied various types of yoga including Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Pre- and Post-natal, and Power Core and Yin yoga. Yoga has reminded her to breathe deeply when parenting, love her body and to take time to simply be.

Rosalee de la Forȇt, traditional herbalist and Structural medicine Specialist. Rosalee is the author of dozens of articles and several ebooks on herbal healing.

Schedule

Friday night ~ Restore

Arrive at 5:00
5:30 - 6:30 Grounding yoga practice
7:00 - 8:00 Dinner
8:00 - 9:00 Opening circle; introductions, intentions

Saturday ~ Rejuvenate

8:00 - 8:45 Awakening yoga practice
9:00 - 9:45 Breakfast
9:45 - 10:30 Free time (outside time encouraged)
10:30 - 12:00 Herbal discussion: Supporting the immune system
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 Free time, sauna
3:30 - 5:30 Deepening yoga practice
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner
7:30 - 9:00 Personal Time, sauna

Sunday ~ Radiate

8:00 - 8:45 Awakening yoga practice
9:00 - 9:45 Breakfast
9:45 - 10:00 Free time
10:00 - 11:00 Herbal discussion: Understanding our food as medicine
11:00 - 12:00 Completion yoga practice

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch 1:30 - 2:00 Closing circle

All meals will be eaten in silence, and silence will be encouraged in common areas. Participation in meal prep and clean up is part of the weekend experience.

The retreat is hosted by the

Skalitude Retreat Center

in the Methow Valley

Registration
We are joyfully offering this weekend at an exceptionally low price in order to serve those who need this retreat. Space is limited to 11 participants - register early to ensure your spot.

When: March 16th-18th, 2012

Registration: $195 by March 4th, $220 after

send check to

Skalitude Retreat

PO Box 74

Carlton WA 98814

more info: www.skalitude.com, 509-997-1032

Organizing all those herbal blogs

2012-01-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

Wow!

It is incredible how many fabulous herbal blogs there are out there! It wasn't that long ago when there were just a handful of blogs to read.

Don't know what I am talking about? You'll have to check out my attempt at listing all the herbal blogs in one location.

I have had a plethora of wonderful feedback about this project. From readers, eager to seek out new herbal information to bloggers, thrilled at the increase in their visiting stats.

By far the most common comment is, "how do I read all these blogs?"

Well, I can't tell you how to increase the hours in your day, but I can offer some advice on how to organize it all by using an RSS feeder.

If you are already familiar with an RSS feeder then this will be nothing new to you. If you aren't aware of this free handy software, read on.

There are many different free RSS reader softwares to choose from. I've only used Vienna, but I am guessing that most of these work the same.

You can find a listing of free RSS reader software for macs here.

In the unfortunate circumstance that you are using a windows based machine you can find a listing of RSS feeders here.

Here's why I LOVE it.

I copy and paste blogs I want to follow into my Vienna reader. When I open the software (or hit refresh) it automatically loads any new blog posts for all my blog subscriptions. This allows me to easily see who has recently written a new blog post.

But here's the best part - the search feature!

Let's say I want to learn more about stinging nettle. I can type this plant into the search function (perhaps using its binomial, Urtica dioica). Vienna searches all of my subscribed blogs and then compiles a list of articles that mention Stinging Nettle.

Now I have a large list of contemporary herbal writers and their thoughts on Stinging Nettle. Find an article you love? Don't forget to visit the blog and let the writer know. We bloggers love comments.

And yes, the fact this is really exciting to me does make me an herbal nerd. I am aware.

So load up your RSS reader and enjoy all those blogs!

Do you have a way to organize your herbal blog reading? Please share in the comments!

Herbal Blog Roll Banners!

2012-01-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

Have you seen my attempt at listing all herbal blogs? If not check it out here.

It's been so much fun to read all these new blogs I never knew existed! And it's been so much fun to get all the lovely feedback from so many of you. Thanks for visiting!

Besides the "thanks" I also heard from people who were a little overwhelmed with all those herbal blogs. How can I read all of them?

In the next few weeks I'll have some tips on how to organize and compile blogs for your own leisurely reading.

I'm also excited to announce that every month I am going to highlight 1-2 outstanding blog posts. My goal is to introduce herbal readers to a wide array of herbal blogs. Stay tuned!

Lastly, if you are an herbal blogger and would like to support the complete herbal blog listing, my husband, Xavier made these really pretty banners to post on your blogs.

Simply choose the banner you like, then copy and paste the html tag below the image onto your own blog.

Echinacea: Reclaiming this powerful plant

2011-12-20T13:56:00.001-08:00

Echinacea

Botanical name: Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida

Family: Asteraceae (Aster)

Common names: purple coneflower, Rudbeckia, Kansas snakeroot, hedgehog, black sampson

Parts used: whole plant, flowers, roots, leaves

Properties: cool and dry, immunomodulator, sialagogue, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, vulnerary, lymphagogue, alterative, anti-pyretic, circulatory stimulant

Used for: infected wounds, colds and flu, acne, boils, abscesses, septicemia, mouth infections, warts, venomous bites, fevers

Plant preparations: tincture, tea, decoction, mixed with clay, mouth wash, poultice

‎"Under the older classification of remedies, echinacea would probably be classified as an antiseptic and alterative. Strictly speaking, it is practically impossible to classify an agent like echinacea by applying to it one or two words to indicate its virtues. The day is rapidly approaching when these qualifying terms will have no place in medicine, for they but inadequately convey to our minds the therapeutic possibilities of our drugs."

King's American Dispensatory 1898

King’s American Dispensatory is an Eclectic materia medica book first published in 1854. Echinacea boasts quite a long entry in this book and it certainly was a darling of the Eclectics. Reading the above quote we can see the author was very opposed to simplifying one of their greatest herbs to an “antiseptic” and an “alterative”.

That kind of makes me wonder if they are rolling over in their graves now that their beloved herb has been mass marketed around the world as the “cold and flu” herb.

Egads!

Echinacea is endemic to North America and before it was over-harvested it grew abundantly through the east to the middle of the continent. First used by many native tribes in a wide variety of ways, it became an official part of the botanical medicine in the 1880‘s. Its use became popularized and within decades it was considered one of the most important herbs in practice.

Were people impressed with its ability to fight off a cold or flu?

Actually, the first popularized use of echinacea was for rattlesnake bites!

Historical references say Dr. Meyer had learned about using Echinacea for snake bites from a Native American woman. He then experimented with it for a number of years before going to John King and John Uri Lloyd with his findings. He claimed he had treated 613 cases of rattlesnake bites in animals and humans using his special blend of herbs (Echinacea, hops and wormwood). At first he was brushed aside and ridiculed for making such outrageous claims.

Dr. Meyer offered to send John King a rattlesnake so that he could experiment with treating animals who had been bitten. Dr. King declined. Dr. Meyer then offered to travel to Dr. King and allow himself to be bitten by the snake to prove the efficacy of his herbs in person. Dr. King again declined, but the persistence of Dr. Meyer inspired him to take a closer look at this plant.

Although Dr. Meyer didn’t get bit by the rattlesnake in Dr. King’s presence, there are reports of him willingly submitting to this venomous reptile in order to prove his remedy’s effectiveness. In 1919 the Eclectic physician Ellingwood reported that Dr. Meyer willingly injected himself with the venom of a rattlesnake on his right hand. After six hours significant swelling had reached his elbow. He then dosed himself with his blend of herbs, taking them both internally and externally, went to sleep and woke up four hours later to find the pain and swelling was gone.

In this day and age, if you are hiking through rattlesnake country, certainly take your echinacea tincture along for the ride. If you happen to get bitten by this venomous creature, take your echinacea tincture liberally - on your way to the hospital.

Echinacea - some serious medicine

Dr. Meyer popularized Echinacea through his rattlesnake exploits but he also claimed it could cure a wide range of ailments. Besides ameliorating the bites and stings of venomous creatures (including snakes, scorpions, spiders, bees, etc) he also used it for serious infections like typhoid and malarial fever, cholera, trichinosis, and what would later be known as strep. He used it for a variety of “bad blood” conditions such as boils, carbuncles, acne, hemorrhoids, eczema and abscesses. And yes, he even used it for what could be cold and flu symptoms, nasal and pharyngeal catarrh.

Sounds too good to be true?

During this time in history it was common to sell “snake medicine,” patented medicines making claims of outrageous miracle cures. And it was for this reason that Dr. Meyer was at first brushed aside as a quack.

But after the Eclectic physicians really started to work with Echinacea, all of Dr. Meyers’ claims were proven true.

For twenty to twenty-five years, echinacea has been passing through the stages of critical experimentation under the observation of several thousand physicians, and its remarkable properties are receiving positive confirmation... All who use it correctly fall quickly into line as enthusiasts in its praise.

Ellingwood, 1919

Echinacea angustifolia with a tiny little spider. Can you see it?

The Eclectics later wrote extensively about Echinacea and used it for many of the same ailments that Dr. Meyer did, as well as rabid dog bites, rheumatism, syphilis, uterine infections, vaginal infections, gonorrhea, blood poisoning and cerebral meningitis. They also used it for prolonged infections due to poison ivy/oak poisoning.

Pretty amazing for a plant pigeon-holed as the cold and flu herb!

How does Echinacea work?

Undoubtedly Echinacea works in a myriad of ways that we can only begin to comprehend. But modern science has been able to figure out some of the miraculous ways of this magical plant.

One way that it works is to increase phagocytosis. Phagocytosis means “to devour” and is an immune response that includes the engulfing and destruction of micro organisms as well as damaged or old cells and other cellular debris. This is a major way that the immune system removes various pathogens, bacteria and other cellular debris.

Eclectics considered Echinacea, above all, to be an alterative. In his book on Echinacea, herbalist Paul Bergner says of alterative, “The term comes from the word “to alter,” meaning to change the composition and quality of the extracellular fluid and blood.” He then goes on to quote Dr. Harvey Felter as stating, “If there is any meaning in the term alterative, it is expressed in the therapy of Echinacea.”

Herbalists also classify Echinacea as a lymphagogue, which means it promotes the flow of the lymphatic fluids and can also include the process of phagocytosis.

Bergner maintains that Echinacea not only promotes the flow of lymph and stimulates the immune system at the level of white blood cells but that it also promotes blood circulation. So it not only increases the actions of the immune system, it also delivers those natural defenses to the area where it is needed.

When you taste Echinacea you’ll immediately notice a tingly sensation on your tongue followed by profuse saliva. This action is called a sialagogue. By promoting the flow of saliva, Echinacea can address mouth infections and promote digestion. According to Paul Bergner, Echinacea was used as a dental remedy by many Native American tribes, including the Omaha Ponca, Oglala Dakota, Cheyenne, Crow and Commanche.

Echinacea can lower fevers by stopping the spread of infection. It was used extensively by the Eclectics as an antiseptic and they used it to clean wounds, to sterilize the skin and surgical instruments before surgery.

How we can use Echinacea today

Chances are that most of you probably won’t be using herbs to combat typhoid or malaria or rattlesnake bites or rabid dog bites.

Echinacea angustifolia growing on a farm

However, there are lots of indications for Echinacea that we can commonly use it for. Keep in mind that energetically it is cooling and drying and is specific for signs of heat, ulcerations and fetid tissues.

Common health complaints that fall under these categories are ulcers that won’t heal, acne, infections and boils (Echinacea is my favorite remedy for boils). It is commonly used for vaginal and urinary infections.

There are a couple of considerations when dosing Echinacea. One, if you are dealing with something on the external surface such as bug bites, wounds, acne, boils etc. then it’s most effective when applied externally as well as taken internally. I personally like to take the tincture internally while applying a fomentation of the decocted root. You can also dilute the tincture for external use.

Secondly, consider how often you dose Echinacea. Eclectics used Echinacea in smaller doses frequently; the exact amounts and frequency varied by practitioner. When dealing with an acute condition, taking 30-60 drops only three times a day is not ideal. Echinacea is better taken every hour or every couple hours.

What about using Echinacea for colds and flu? No doubt that taken at the first sign of a cold or flu it can stop the illness from progressing. However, one thing to consider is that we don’t want to use Echinacea as a band-aid for a weakened immune system brought on by poor diet and lifestyle choices. If someone is frequently coming down with colds and flu, consider addressing the weakened immune system with building therapies such as rest, a nutrient-dense diet, regular exercise, joy and tonic immune-building herbs like astragalus.

In Volume 14, Number 2 of the Medical Herbalism Journal, herbalist Paul Bergner suggests this protocol when working with Echinacea for abating upper respiratory infections:

A typical protocol of a contemporary North American medical herbalist for the use of Echinacea in the common cold:

1) A well-made tincture of the root of E. angustifolia or E. purpurea.

2) The medicine administered at first onset of symptoms.

3) A high dose of a teaspoon or more per hour for the first few hours, then tapering to 4 tsp per day on the second day and continuing while symptoms are present.

4) Aggressive treatment with Echinacea especially for those with chronic immune weak- ness rather than those in generally good health who happen to have a minor respiratory infection.

Fact or Fiction?

Does one need to stop taking Echinacea after a certain number of days? This once popular belief came about from a misinterpreted German study. The Eclectics used Echinacea for 9 months or more without any problems.

Should Echinacea be avoided by those with auto-immune diseases? There have been some problems associated with those who have auto-immune conditions and some herbalists say it should be avoided by those populations. However, this is a contentious issue in the herbal world and, in reality, while Echinacea may not work for some people with autoimmunity, it may work for others.

Echinacea angustifolia

Is Echinacea angustifolia better than the other varieties? I don’t think there is a black and white answer to this. Some herbalists maintain that E. angustifolia root is the best material to make Echinacea products from. But plants are hard to pin down and you can find many differences between plants of the same species (depending on growing conditions, etc). For me, the most important thing is that whatever plant you are using it has that strong special Echinacea zing when you taste it.

One thing to note is that Echinacea angustifolia is harder to grow than E. purpurea and grows less robustly. Therefore it costs more.

Botanically Speaking

There are around nine plants in the Echinacea genus and all are herbaceous perennial plants. Recently Echinacea plants have been hybridized into cultivars for gardeners.

Echinacea angustifolia and E. purpurea are the most commonly used species for medicine and E. pallida is sometimes used. For this botanical exploration we’ll look at E. angustifolia and E. purpurea.

The term for the genus “Echinacea” is derived from the Greek word meaning hedgehog or sea urchin and refers to the center cone of the flower.

First, let’s look at E. angustifolia, which grows up to 30 inches tall.

The composite flowers of E. angustifolia bloom from summer to early fall. The pale pink ray flowers are less showy than E. purpurea. You’ll notice the spiky center of the flower, which is likened to a hedgehog.

The leaves are narrow (angustifolia means narrow leaf).

Both the stems and leaves are significantly hairy.

The roots are taproots.

Here is the Range Map for Echinacea angustifolia

Echinacea purpurea
Echinace purpurea grows more readily and robustly than E. angustifolia. The showy composite flowers have purple ray flowers. Purpurea means purple.

The leaves of E. purpurea are broader than E. angustifolia.

The roots grow from a caudex with fibrous roots.

Photo by Luanne Marie

Here is the Range Map for Echinacea purpurea

The Future of Echinacea

The widespread use of Echinacea during the time of the Eclectics as well as the current market in North America and Europe has led to this plant’s demise in the wild. Never, ever buy wildcrafted Echinacea. There is no longer a way for anyone to wildcraft this plant sustainably. Instead, consider growing this beautiful plant in your own garden or buy it from organic cultivated sources. And if you live in this plant’s natural habitat, go on walks, spread seeds.

Echinacea harvest on a biodynamic farm

I hope after reading this article you’ll have a new appreciation for this “cold and flu” herb. Remember, anytime marketing sums up a plant with a couple of words there is going to be a much larger picture of what it does as well as how we use it. Echinacea offers us a treasure chest of important remedies - let’s reclaim their varied uses and support the growth of this plant, both in our gardens and in the wild.

Book Resource

Paul Bergner wrote THE book on Echinacea that I highly recommend if you are interested in learning more about this plant. You can find this book for super cheap at used book stores.

The Healing Power of Echinacea & Goldenseal, Paul Bergner

This monograph was originally written for HerbMentor.com. If you love herbs then I highly recommend subscribing to the site.

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Review

2011-12-20T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Farm: A Cultivator’s Guide to Small-Scale Organic Herb Production by Peg Schafer

Over the past few years I’ve started to grow some Chinese medicinal herbs. Astragalus, codonopsis and baical skullcap were herbs I just couldn’t imagine being without. This year was my first harvest and I was a little disappointed about the yield. Two years of effort brought forth very little roots. If only I had had this beautifully photographed and incredibly informative book to guide me, I would have easily avoided mistakes!

This book is written for both the casual home gardener interested in growing a few plants and the farmer interested in entering the market of Chinese Medicinal Herbs.

Authored by Peg Schafer, who is not only a pioneer and authority on the subject (after having been an organic Chinese medicinal herb farmer for over a decade), but also who has a gift for writing in an engaging and very clear manner.

Part I of this book starts off by addressing many common concerns about growing Chinese Herbs. Why would someone be interested in growing Chinese herbs? Are they as potent as plants grown in China? Will the grower be introducing invasive species? Is there a market for these herbs?

In her concise yet thorough manner, Schafer addresses all these concerns.

Why grow Chinese plants?

As Schafer points out, there are many reasons to grow Chinese herbs. First, there is a lot of concern about the quality of herbs coming from China. Plants in the wild are being over-harvested and all plants coming out of China could potentially be exposed to pesticides and other harmful chemicals. Secondly, there is a growing concern about the availability of herbs from overseas. By learning to grow our own we ensure our access to these plants no matter the political climate.

Are Chinese plants cultivated in the west medicinally potent?

I often hear from practitioners that the most potent Chinese herbs only come from their native habitat. Peg Schafer has an interesting analogy about this hypothesis in relation to wine. Not too long ago it was thought that the best wines could only be grown in the French terroir. However, after years of experimentation, the western coast of the United States has proven its ability to grow wines just as coveted as the French.

Moving beyond analogy, Schafer addresses the concern of cultivated vs. wild plants by sharing her specific ways of growing potent plants. (Tip: growing medicinal herbs is nothing like growing vegetable crops!) She backs up her claims with scientific testing (her herbs vs. imports) as well as organoleptic testing by Chinese Medicine Practitioners.

Covering the basics

Although this book is mainly geared towards Chinese herbs, any herb gardener will find the first part of this book full of interesting tips. From building the soil, to managing the crops, to harvesting, to seed collecting, Schafer expertly covers many areas of organic herbal gardening.

Fresh codonopsis root

Specific Plants (79 of them!)

In part 2 Schafer delves into specific cultivation techniques for 79 different Chinese plants. This section covers germination requirements, troubleshooting techniques, harvesting methods, processing methods, beautiful photos and even medicinal information for each plant.

All of the information presented in the book comes from Schafer’s years of direct experience on her own farm and is a treasure for western dwellers who have grown fond of Chinese herbs, although I wouldn’t limit this book to strictly Chinese herb growers as the western herbalist will also find many familiar plants among the pages, such as Angelica sinensis and burdock (Arctium lappa).

I’ve been pouring over this book for the past couple of weeks and, while the ground is covered in snow, I am already dreaming of my spring garden and the Chinese plants I will grow there. With Schafer’s informative book in hand I know I’ll have a lot more success growing my favorite Chinese herbs. I am looking forward to a garden full of peonies and codonopsis and skullcaps and on and on.

To purchase this book and support Schafer’s important work (and farm), buy it from her directly at:

http://chinesemedicinalherbfarm.com/index.html

Contents:

Part One: Cultivating to Conserve Connecting with Quality Asian Botanicals

Chapter One: Farming to Be Part of the Solution

Evolving Herbal Traditions

Risks to the Future of Herbalism

Solutions for Continued Availability

Chapter Two: Herb Quality

Wild Quality

Assessing Herb Quality

Regulating Herbs

Like Fine Wines . . .

Chapter Three: Cultivation in the Nursery, Garden, and Field

Planning

Seed Starting and Propagation

Managing Your Soil

Planting

Seasonal Care

Managing Invasive Plant Risk

Chapter Four: The Harvest and Marketing

Harvesting Medicine

Drying Herb Crops

Storing Dried Herbs

Shipping Fresh or Dry Herbs

Collecting and Saving Seed for Sowing

Selling What You Grow

Good Agricultural Practices

Make Alliances

Chapter Five: Conservation and Global Trade in Medicinal Plants

Current Status: Factors and Reasons for Concern

Who Needs Protection?

Protective Measures

How Effective Are the Protective Strategies?

Cultivate to Conserve

How to Be Part of the Solution

Part Two: 79 Medicinal Herb Profiles

BOOK DATA

ISBN: 9781603583305 Year Added to Catalog: 2011

Book Format: Paperback

Book Art: Full Color Throughout

Dimensions: 8 x 10

Number of Pages: 336

Book Publisher: Chelsea Green

Pub Date: December, 2011

Retail Price: U.S. $34.95 / Canada $38.50

Category: Gardening & Agriculture

Baical Skullcap

Arrow Leaf Balsam Root Through the Seasons: A monograph

2011-12-05T11:19:00.001-08:00

Art by Lauren Raine

I know it's cliche to mention, but I swear time is swirling by faster and faster these days. I've already been snowshoeing for weeks and each time I strap on my mittens and coat I can still barely believe it.

That's also how I felt when Kiva announced the first anniversary issue of the Plant Healer Magazine is released! Has it really been a year since this revolutionary magazine was first released?

And I am not just being overly superlative. This magazine, in it's short year of existence, has revolutionized herbal medicine. No other publication like it has ever existed in the history of herbal medicine.

The Plant Healer Magazine is a quarterly pdf publication that publishes a wide variety of articles from contemporary herbalists. What I love most about the magazine is the fresh perspectives from such a wide range of herbalists. It's almost like a temperature gage of what is going on NOW in the herbal world.

From medicine making to botany to wildcrafting to midwifery to plant monographs to clinical skills to poetic ramblings about plants this magazine provides hours and hours of learning.

The latest anniversary issue is 265 pages! Yes, that is crazy and no, they probably won't do that again. I am really excited to curl up next to the fire this winter and read article after article from many of my favorite herbalists!

To celebrate the anniversary issue, the editors of the magazine, Kiva Rose and Jesse Wolf Hardin are offering some incredible bonuses along with the regular price of subscribing. One bonus is a significant discount to attend the Traditions in Western Herbalism Conference next September!

To learn more about subscribing and all the bonuses click on the banner below.

A year ago I published my first article in the Plant Healer Magazine on a plant that is certainly the emblem for our valley: Arrow Leaf Balsam Root (Balsamorhiza sagittata).

In celebration of the anniversary issue, here is the full article.

Balsam Root through the Seasons

I live in the Methow Valley in the northeastern cascades of Washington State. The valley is just over 50 miles long and is located a couple hours (as the crow flies) from the Canadian border and 4 hours from the Pacific Ocean.

The valley boasts of large tracts of wilderness and a variety of ecological niches, from the sagebrush steppe to riparian rivers, to evergreen forests to alpine peaks.

Each season in the Methow is distinct with intense variations in temperature and plant life. In May, the otherwise drab hillsides of the sagebrush steppe burst alive with a diversity of wildflowers, the most prominent being the flower of the valley, Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagitatta).

This wild flower of the Asteraceae family covers hillsides from April to June, peaking in the middle of May. Besides being a visual delight, this plant has played an important role in the ecology of the Methow for thousands of years. Dense roots run deep into the rocky soils, preventing erosion; large leaves provide habitat to many scurrying animals and the leaves, flowers and seeds provide an important food source to mammals as small as field mice, to ungulates to humans. The resinous roots have been an important medicine for humans for countless eons.

This plant grows all over western North America. The USDA range map shows it growing as far east as the Dakotas, as far south as the US/Mexican border and throughout western Canada as well.

Spring

As the snows are receding in the valley, balsam root offers its first gifts of the growing season. Locating last year’s foliage, smashed flat by the heavy snow, we can find the beginning sprouts of this year’s growth. These sprouts are best eaten when they are about an inch in length. As some of the first fresh food to appear, these sprouts are a welcome sign of the turning of the seasons.

We harvest these sprouts by taking only one or two from each plant we walk by to ensure plenty of new growth for the plant. We’ve eaten them raw or cooked them in stir-fries and soups and we mostly prefer them raw, eating them one by one as we harvest from large stands. The sprouts have a strong resinous taste that is mildly pungent and overall pleasant.

We’ve read ethnobotanical reports of the roots from very young plants being eaten. We’ve tried this multiple times, harvesting very small roots - about the diameter of a pencil - and cooking them for extended periods of time, but have yet to yield anything other than a hard woody root that is not edible.

As the spring continues on, the sprouts grow into leaves and flower stalks, both of which can be peeled and eaten, again taking precautions not to over harvest from one plant.

In late April the hillsides are turning green, the first flowers are beginning to emerge and the anticipation of yellow hillsides fills the community. Talk at the farmer’s market centers around whether this will be a good flower year or not. Tourists ask, what are those wild sunflowers on the hills?

The leaves are large and arrow shaped, hence the common name. Ethnobotanical reports indicate these large leaves were poulticed and used on burns and wounds.

Recently, someone commented to me that this flower grows like a weed, but I was quick to interject. Although it’s very common in our valley, arrowleaf balsamroot plants take many many years to mature and are difficult to transplant. When we harvest this plant we harvest with respect for each plant, understanding the abundance of this plant is a gift of the valley.

Summer

The last of the flower show is fading by mid June, and July and August will bring the next gifts of this sunflower plant, seeds!

We’ve experimented harvesting the seeds in a couple different ways over the past years. There is a small window of time to optimally harvest the seeds. We like to collect the seed heads when the seeds are visually mature but the head is still somewhat tight. Mature seeds are black instead of a dark green color. If we wait too long to harvest the seeds then many have already been eaten or have fallen to the ground.

We harvest the whole seed head and then lay them out on a sheet in the sun. As the seed head dries, the mature seeds will fall from the seed head and onto the sheet. The seed heads can be further shaken to loosen a few stubborn seeds, but not overly so.

One year my husband did his best to get every single seed from the seed head. He diligently split open the seed heads in his quest for thoroughness. He discovered this is not the way to go about it. Besides getting a few stubborn mature seeds, this method will also remove any seeds that are not mature and. worse, will also loosen irritating hairs that will then have to be painstakingly removed from the seeds.

It’s far better to only take what gingerly falls from the seed heads and leave the rest to go back to the earth. We find that in a couple of hours one person can gather about a quart of seeds. I do not know the exact nutritional value of the seeds but I assume that, like most seeds, they are high in proteins and oils, making them a good source of food.

The seeds are quite small. Shelling these is not an energy efficient way to spend your time and the shell is hard enough to be annoying to eat. We’ve tried milling the whole seeds by grinding them with a mortar and pestle but the seeds go rancid amazingly fast. Roasting them does not soften the shell quite enough to make them pleasant to eat.

The best way we’ve found to eat them is by putting them in our stew pot and simmering them for several hours.

Seed heads are an important food source for birds, rodents and deer so we consciously harvest these from a large area and leave plenty for the wildlife.

By mid-August the arrowleaf balsamroot is a brown shell of its spring glory. The once green leaves are brown and crinkled and only a few dried out seeds heads stand where hundreds of yellow flowers shone just months before. But, as herbalists, we know the plant is still pulsating and alive beneath the soil surface.

Autumn

The root is the main part used as medicine. Herbalist Michael Moore describes arrowleaf balsamroot as a cross between echinacea and osha. I can’t personally attest to arrowleaf balsamroot being an immunomodulator but it certainly has an affinity for the respiratory system.

Like many resins the root is decidedly pungent in taste. A small taste of the root and I feel the warming and drying qualities as the energy goes to my lungs, creating the need to clear my throat or cough. Oftentimes taking a few drops of the tincture creates a reflex of taking a large breath.

I recently was teaching a class to a group of students, many of whom had a cold. Passing around the tincture of arrowleaf balsamroot, students with congestion in their lungs reported feeling expectoration from their lungs and students with head colds felt stuck mucous in their sinuses start to release.

I prefer to use arrowleaf balsamroot as a fresh root tincture in 95% alcohol. I often combine this tincture with elderberry, osha and honey.

Arrowleaf balsamroot is a stimulating expectorant, stimulating diaphoretic, and an antimicrobial suitable for sore throats.

I’ve received the best results when using it as a simple for productive coughs that last beyond other symptoms of the original cold or flu.

For sore throats I like to mix 10 - 20 drops of the tincture with a spoonful of honey that is then swallowed. I often combine it with a tincture of cottonwood buds.

I have yet to use arrowleaf balsamroot for a UTI, but Michael Moore describes arrowleaf balsamroot as an disinfecting diuretic. Darcy Williamson reports that taken in too large of a dose it will create kidney irritation.

For external use it infuses into oil very nicely; because of the resins I use heat to extract the root. This warming aromatic oil relieves pain brought on by blood stagnation such as sore shoulder muscles or tension associated with coldness. Used as a liniment it also lends itself well to sore muscles and can also be used to disinfect wounds or kill fungi living on the skin.

Although lacking experience with this myself I’ve seen ethnobotanical records indicating that arrowleaf balsamroot is useful for gastrointestinal complaints and toothaches.

I only need one small root a year to make enough tincture and oil for myself and clients. Heading out into the brown forest outside of my cabin I look for plants with a modest amount of foliage indicating the size of the root.

Large plants can be several decades old and boast a large gnarly root. These large roots can easily be 5-8 feet deep into the earth. Harvesting arrowleaf balsamroot is no easy task, so I am content with my smaller sized roots and leave the mature plants to grow.

Besides searching for the right size I also look for plants on flat ground. Those plants on steep hillsides are doing an important job of keeping the hillside in place. Lastly, I harvest from a well-developed stand.

Traditional style digging tool made from ocean spray and douglas fir.

I use a traditional digging tool for my root harvests. I find sticks are often easier to use as a harvest tool than shovels since shovels can easily slice roots and can often get caught on the plethora of rocks hiding in the soil where arrowleaf balsamroots live. Patience and time rewards me with a taproot the size of a large carrot. A hard outer bark envelopes a woody root in the center. I break apart the outer bark with a hammer, mince the inner bark and tincture them both. The resins from the root cover the cutting board, knife and hands. Alcohol works well to clean them off.

Winter

In the north, winter is a time for animals and plants to rest. In our valley the ground is covered with many feet of snow blanketing all the plants beneath the soil. Arrowleaf balsamroot rests in its roots, waiting until spring to bring forth its many gifts once more.

Above ground we nestle next to the wood stove and give our thanks for the medicine of arrowleaf balsamroot.

Plant Specifics

Common Name: Arrowleaf Balsamroot

Scientific Name: Balsamorhiza sagittata

Family: Asteraceae

Description: Perennial growing throughout western north America as far east as the Dakotas, as far south as California and throughout western Canada as well. It grows in a variety of habitats, including forested mountains to the sage brush steppe.

The taproot is covered in a hard bark and is fairly resinous. Depending on the growing habits and age of the plant, the root can reach several meters into the ground and weigh over 30 pounds.

The leaves can be fairly large, around 20 inches in length and are arrow shaped or triangular.

The flower looks like a sunflower with yellow ray flowers. The entire flower head is about the size of a small fist.

The seeds are the size of a grain of rice and are darkly colored ranging from green to brown to black depending on the maturity.

Properties: Pungent, warm/dry, stimulating expectorant, stimulating diaphoretic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal

Strong affinity for the respiratory system.

Digging a well when you're thirsty...

2011-12-04T08:38:00.001-08:00

Photo by Ananda Wilson

Curing a disease once someone is already ill is like digging a well when you are thirsty.

- Chinese saying

The poignant quote above illustrates our common cultural disillusionment with health. Many of us are only motivated to change our daily habits once illness has arrived. When instead our quest for vibrant health can be sought in every action we take and well before disease sets in.

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December's lovely herbal selection.

As a side note: Every week I get several requests from people and companies wanting me to do a blog post about their product or service. If you're a frequent reader of my blog you'll know that none of these requests are ever realized on my blog. I am posting this more "advertising" post because I feel so strongly about this course. I am receiving no financial compensation for this support.

Valerian on Photo Friday

2011-12-02T13:33:00.001-08:00

Valeriana officinalis growing
on a volcano in Central France

Today's Photo Friday is one of my favorite plants, the notorious valerian.

I rely on valerian often in my life to help with muscle pain and spasms in my back, for menstrual cramping and for relaxation and sleep. I am a valerian girl.

While valerian is a relaxing nervine, sedative and anti-spasmodic to the majority of people, a significant amount of people react in the opposite way to valerian. Instead of settling in for a deep sleep they find themselves agitated and very awake.

I recommend starting out with low doses of valerian to figure out which category you're in.

I use valerian tincture in fairly large doses for myself. Two dropperfuls at night will konk me out almost immediately.

I also use it as a fomentation for back pain and muscle spasms. I generally combine it with ginger.

One of the best uses of valerian is for those dry spastic coughs that often accompany the end stages of a cold or flu. You know those annoying coughs that often become worse when lying down, preventing sleep.

To address these debilitating coughs I do two things. I take marshmallow root and/or linden leaf/flower infusions during the day to address the dryness. Then valerian root tincture at night to stop any residual coughing. For myself, I just keep dosing the tincture until I pass out. This generally means two dropperfuls initially and then a dropperful as necessary.

Various species of valerian can be used with similar results. I'd love to hear what species of valerian you're using.

Valeriana sitchensis growing on Mt. Hood
in Oregon.

Valerian sitchensis grows wild in the mountains above my home, but since I also grow Valeriana officinalis in my garden, I rely on that for most of my medicine.

I planted this Valeriana officinalis a couple years ago. I purchased the sprout from Crimson-Sage Nursery and then planted it without really knowing what to expect.

At the time it was about 12 inches tall.

By the second year this valerian was easily 8 feet tall in my garden.

The valerian is the tall green stuff at the
back of the planting box.

Besides offering fragrant and beautiful blooms it also supported some great wildlife viewing opportunities. Here's a goldenrod spider having a little snack.

The goldenrod spider can change it's color from yellow to white depending on it's
current flower home. (As you might imagine it is yellow when found on goldenrod flowers.)

I've tinctured the flowers of valerian but haven't had a chance to use them yet as medicine - have any of you? Please share in the comments below.

Valeriana officinalis leaves

This fall I dug the roots of the valerian I had planted two years ago. It was easy to split the plant in two and then replant the second half.

If you don't do this occasionally with the valerian in your garden the roots will become more woody and have less essential oils.

Depending on who you ask, valerian roots can smell deeply earthy or like gym socks.

When harvesting and preparing the roots for medicine we want to process them minimally to avoid damaging the volatile oils in the plant.

To make a tincture I put the roots in a bowl of coldish water and gently swished the roots around. This was to get most of the dirt from the roots. I didn't scrub the roots.

The result was mostly clean roots. I chopped these finely and then tinctured at 1:2 at 75%.

When this is done macerating I'll filter this really well to capture any stray pieces of dirt that made it to the batch.

Valerian is easy to grow, can also be wildcrafted and provides effective relief for pain and sleeplessness for most people. I've relied on valerian so many times for aches and pains and periods of insomnia that I have a strong love affair with this potent smelling creature.

Further resources:
Mini-monograph on valerian (with a story about cats)
Another small monograph on valerian

Very thorough monograph on Valerian (by ABC) pdf

Chamomile - An excerpt

2011-11-27T12:42:00.001-08:00

The following is an excerpt from my latest ebook:

Herbal Remedies for Children

During the Cold & Flu Season.

This ebook is on sale for $10

Purchase this ebook before midnight on Monday, November 28th you'll receive several bonuses including an ebook on Herbal Gifts for the Holiday season and two fun herbal crafts.

To buy the ebook, click on the Add To Cart button below:

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Click here to read more about this ebook.

Now about Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)...

One of my first memories of using plants for medicine was delivered through Beatrix Potter and her adventures with Peter Rabbit. You might remember the day that Peter Rabbit narrowly escaped a harrowing ordeal in Mr. McGregor’s garden. Once he was safely home his mother gave him a cup of chamomile tea before putting him to bed. How quaint! Perhaps it was because of this pre-school impression that I didn’t take this herb very seriously.

Now, many cups of chamomile tea later, I understand what makes chamomile so extraordinary. It provides significant results while being safe and gentle for practically everyone.

As Peter Rabbit’s mother knew, chamomile is soothing and calming; perfect after those stressful days in the garden or at work. It not only helps to promote rest, but it also helps to mediate pain and inflammation. In fact, chamomile is so effective at reducing inflammation that it has been studied extensively for this ability.

If you type its scientific name (Matricaria recutita) into PubMed (a government listing of biomedical studies), you’ll see it has been proven effective both for addressing phlebitis caused by chemotherapy treatments and for stopping allergies by inhibiting the histamine response.

From an herbalist’s perspective, chamomile is considered bitter, slightly warming, and relaxing. What does this mean and why does it matter?

Herbalists don’t simply study what herb is good for what condition. Instead, each plant is analyzed on a variety of therapeutic levels. One important aspect of this is the plant’s ability to warm or cool a person. Have you ever eaten really spicy wasabi and then felt your sinuses drain? Or eaten a fresh slice of watermelon on a hot day and felt cooled and refreshed? If so, then you’ll know exactly what I am talking about.

Every medicinal plant has these characteristics to some degree or another, and understanding these actions helps herbalists to be more effective at choosing which plant can help a particular person. Chamomile, as just described, is relatively neutral but perhaps slightly warming. Generally, our more neutral plants can be taken by most people and in higher amounts without causing unwanted effects.

The taste of a plant is also very important in understanding the plant’s actions. The bitter taste on our tongue creates a cascade of events that promotes our digestive function. From stimulating saliva (our first digestive juice) to various enzymes in the stomach, liver and pancreas, one can argue that the bitter taste is needed at every meal. A strongly brewed cup of chamomile provides this bitter taste, thus promoting healthy digestion.

Chamomile can be especially beneficial for people with a “nervous stomach” as it both calms and soothes while stimulating digestive function. It can also be used by people with digestive inflammation (such as heartburn or IBS) to mediate inflammatory levels in the gut mucosa.

Furthering helping with digestion are chamomile aromatic qualities which break up stagnant digestion (think bloating and the bowling ball that won't leave your stomach).

Chamomile has many applications for common complaints. Besides helping to relax the nervous system chamomile also can relax muscle tissue. Women may find their menstrual cramps abated with a strong cup of chamomile tea, or diminished by rubbing their abdomen with oil infused with chamomile blossoms.

Any mother whose colicky or teething child has been soothed to sleep (or simply quieted) by chamomile will tell you this is beneficial stuff!

If you’ve ever stuck a chamomile tea bag into a cup of hot water for five minutes, then you’ve experienced chamomile as a delightful and slightly sweet tea. To get more therapeutic results, use more chamomile and steep for longer. I generally use 1/2 cup of flowers to a pint of just-boiled water and I let it steep for 20-30 minutes. The resulting brew is decidedly less sweet than a cup of tea but this stronger concoction provides more relief for many of the issues listed in this article.

Besides drinking this strong infusion, it can also be used on skin as a rinse or added to bath water to relieve itching of mild rashes. Chamomile is also used as a tincture, a glycerite and as an infused oil.

Ebook is on sale - plus a few bonuses!

2011-11-26T11:48:00.001-08:00

I wasn't actually planning on presenting a webinar and ebook this month - I have my Facebook friends to thank for that!

You see, I did a presentation on using herbs with children here in my Valley for the mothering group. And I made up this super cute 9-page booklet to go along with it. For fun I uploaded a photo of that to my Facebook page and within minutes had numerous requests for the booklet!

Seeing that we are entering the cold and flu season and many people were requesting a book I jumped right on it. I got in touch with Michael (who was vacationing in Kauai at the time!) and he graciously agreed to do a webinar with me. Jill and Anne at East West School of Herbology helped me to get the announcement in the newsletter (at the very last minute!) and a webinar was born.

I then started to work on my little pamphlet of notes. Over the past three weeks I transformed the little booklet into over 20,000 words and 92 pages of information about using herbs with kids.

The ebook covers the following...

Dosage issues for children

When to see a doctor

Herbs for fevers

Herbs for coughs

Herbs for congestion

Herbs for sore throats

Herbs for tummy troubles

Herbs for earaches

Herbs for teething

Herbal baths

and many herbal recipes

I strongly believe that taking care of our common illnesses by using affordable, effective and safe plant medicines is our human right. That's why I really strive to give out a lot of my information for free. Whether it is through this blog, Facebook posts or the free webinars with Michael Tierra.

By selling an accompanying ebook, it provides a way for those who are interested and able to support my sharings and my work as an herbalist.

Even though these webinars and ebooks are weeks of solid work, I love doing them. And I really appreciate all the support I get from the herbal community whether it is emails and Facebook posts to say thank you, or participating in my giveaways to help spread the word and for those who buy my ebooks.

I couldn't be an herbalist with you all! (Either egotistically or financially!)

The winner of a free copy of my ebook is....

mayamadeherbals

Congratulations! I've already sent you a message.

And for the rest of you who are interested here is the cart to buy the ebook. The cost is $10

Payments safely processed through e-junkie.com

For those who buy the ebook in the next 48 hours I am including three bonuses, which you will be able to download from the same page as the ebook!

Herbal Gifts Ebook: 25 inspiring gifts for the holiday season

Forest Fairies: a pdf on how to make forest creatures from natural products

Cinnamon Ornaments: a pdf of how to make these easy tree ornaments

Thank you all again for supporting me whether it is through your kind words, spreading the word, or through your pocket book.

Enjoy these winter months!

Rosalee

Finally! The day has arrived!

2011-11-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

First things first, here is the winner of a year's subscription to Herbal Roots Zine!

Desiree Moonstone

Desiree, I've sent you a message on Facebook to coordinate getting you set up to receive an entire year of Herbal Roots Zine. Congrats!!!

Thank you so much to all of you for participating in this week's giveaway. During this Thanksgiving holiday I've felt especially blessed and supported by our herbal community. Thank you!

I have spent the past few days putting the final touches on my ebook, Herbal Remedies for Children During the Cold and Flu Season.

Besides including everything that was presented in the webinar earlier this week I've added a lot more recipes and herbal information.

This ebook covers

Dosage issues for children

When to see a doctor

Herbs for fevers

Herbs for coughs

Herbs for congestion

Herbs for sore throats

Herbs for tummy troubles

Herbs for earaches

Herbs for teething

Herbal baths

and many herbal recipes

When I first envisioned creating this ebook I thought it would be more of a supportive pamphlet to accompany the webinar. However I got carried away and the ebook is over 20,000 words and is 90 pages long.

On November 26th my ebook will go on sale at 12:00 pm PST. If you would like to win a free copy of this ebook then here's what to do.

Share this blog post on Facebook
Share this blog post on Twitter
Add me as a friend on Facebook
Like Taste of Herbs on Facebook
Sign up for my list below (which notifies you about my upcoming ebook on Herbal Remedies for Children during the cold and flu season)

For EACH of the above things that you do, leave me a comment below. I'll enter your name in the hat for EACH comment you submit. If you do five things, then make five comments.

You can enter your name up to 5 times!

I'll draw the name for the winner at 12:00 pm PST on November 26th!

Good luck!

A winner and a chance to win a year of Herbal Roots Zine

2011-11-25T03:00:00.000-08:00

I have to say that although I am pretty new to this whole giveaway phenomenon I am quickly falling in love. It is so much fun to give away gifts! Thank you to LearningHerbs.com and Demetria Clark for their generous gifts!

Without further ado our winner of the Wildcraft! game and the book Herbal Healing for Children is....

gardensage

Gardensage, please contact me so I can get these prizes shipped off to you!

Today we have a very exciting gift which was generously donated by Kristine Brown, the beautiful and creative proprietor of Herbal Roots Zine.

A year's subscription to Herbal Roots Zine!!!!

If you've been following me for even a short while you'll know I am a huge fan of this monthly educational zine. It is filled with stories, songs and all sorts of crafts and other learning opportunities. I mentor a ten year old girl and she loves this as well (but really I subscribe for myself!).

This zine has taught me how to use comfrey to fertilize my garden, how to use herbal dyes to make beautiful scarves and how to belt out songs about yarrow (as sung to Annie's Tomorrow)

My yarrow, my yarrow, I love ya, my yarrow, You’re always an herb I’ll grow!

I have no doubt that many of you will also want to be singing herbal songs at the top of your lungs while driving your kiddos around!

Here's how this works. If you would like to win a year long subscription to Herbal Roots Zine you can enter your name in the drawing multiple times by doing one or more of the following things.

Share this blog post on Facebook
Share this blog post on Twitter
Sign up for the Herbal Roots Zine newsletter (as an added bonus you get an entire zine for free when you sign up)
Like Herbal Roots Zine on Facebook
Sign up for my list below (which notifies you about further prizes and my upcoming ebook on Herbal Remedies for Children during the cold and flu season)

For EACH of the above things that you do, leave me a comment below. I'll enter your name in the hat for EACH comment you submit.

So, if you shared this post on Facebook, simply write that in the comment field and I'll add your name to the hat. This means that you may make several separate comments for each action you take.

You can enter your name up to 5 times!

I'll draw the name for the winner tomorrow night at 9:00 PM PST and announce it here tomorrow morning.

Good luck!

Here's what people are saying about Herbal Roots Zine.

“The information included on each herb is simple and experiential enough to entertain even very young children and in-depth and insightful enough to engage teens and yes, even us old timers. Personally, I find Herbal Roots to be an invaluable treasure in the homeschooling of our 10 year old daughter, Rhiannon. Which gives me a great excuse to read it myself. Even beyond parents, Herbal Roots Zine provides a great resource to any educator or caregiver hoping to find effective and easy ways to facilitate connection between children, the earth and the healing herbs.”

-Kiva Rose

Though directed at kids, Herbal Roots Zine is IDEAL for adults. I love how it keeps things simple, and I love the great, beautiful art.

You get to learn through information and recipes sure, but the REAL magic is in the PLAY…songs, poems, crafts, puzzles and stories. These are the oldest form of human learning. We’re hard wired for it, and this is why Herbal Roots Zine is the most effective herbal learning tool I have seen.

Kristine is an amazing artist and herbalist. As a mom of 4 kids, she has a true gift for connecting with kids. Though my own children really love Herbal Roots Zine, secretly, it’s me who spends the most time with it. Shhhh.”

-John Gallagher, L.Ac., LearningHerbs.com

We got a winner and the next giveaway!

2011-11-24T03:30:00.000-08:00

Today is the second day of our giveaway! But FIRST I have the announcement of yesterday's winner.

As a reminder, this person will receive Lesley Tierra's book, A Kid's Herb Book and a 4 oz bottle of Planetary Herbals Well-Child blend.

The winner is...

Wanderer

Congratulations! I'll be in touch in order to get these gifts shipped off to you. And a special thank you to the East West School of Herbology for donating these great gifts for this giveaway.

Today we have another set of fabulous gifts that will be given as a pair.

The first gift is the Herbal Adventure Game, Wildcraft! by LearningHerbs.com. If you've never played this game you are in for a treat! In this co-operative board game the players travel through a spiral to get to the huckleberry bush to gather berries for grandmother's pie. The goal is for everyone to gather berries and return home before dark. Along the way there are many opportunities to learn about medicinal plants.

Kids of all ages LOVE this game. (Myself included!)

Wildcraft! is great family fun.Gather up the kids, bring out the board game, and learn about medicinal and edible plants in the most fun way imaginable.This is wonderfully cooperative game where everyone is a winner and everyone learns something about plants!
–Rosemary Gladstar,
Author of 'A Family Herbal' and MANY books

The second gift is a very informative book entitled Herbal Healing for Children by Demetria Clark. This book covers a wide range of ailments and herbs for children. A great reference for your bookshelf.

" Demetria Clark gifts us with an enjoyable, thorough parenting guide for anyone who wants empower themselves and their children. 'Herbal medicine is people's medicine' is a constant theme in this book-and we all benefit.
Susun S. Weed, author of Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year

Here's how this works. If you would like to win these two prizes you can enter your name in the drawing multiple times by doing one or more of the following things.

Share this blog post on Facebook
Share this blog post on Twitter
Like LearningHerbs.com on Facebook
Sign up for LearningHerbs.com newsletter (in the upper left corner)
Like Herbal Healing for Children on Facebook
Leave a comment below about why you would like these prizes.
Sign up for my list in the form below

For EACH of the above things that you do, leave me a comment below. I'll enter your name in the hat for EACH comment you submit.

So, if you shared this post on Facebook, simply write that in the comment field and I'll add your name to the hat. This means that you may make several separate comments for each action you take.

You can enter your name up to 7 times!

I'll draw the name for the winner tomorrow night at 9:00 PM PST and announce it here tomorrow morning.

Good luck!

First Giveaway!!!!

2011-11-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am very excited to be giving away a spectacular book and a super useful herbal medicine for children.

The book by Lesley Tierra is a must have for your young herbal enthusiast. I use it practically every week with my little herbal mentor Tova Rose (who is now 10). The book contains stories, songs, interesting facts and plenty of great herbal crafts for kids. Because of this book I brush my teeth with cinnamon powder!

The Well-Child formula contains Echinacea and Elderberries - a great combination for young ones with a cold or flu.

Here's how this works. If you would like to win these two prizes you can enter your name in the drawing multiple times by doing one or more of the following things.

Share this blog post on Facebook
Share this blog post on Twitter
Like East West on Facebook
Sign up for the East West Newsletter
Leave a comment below about why you would like these prizes.
Sign up for my list in the form below

For EACH of the above things that you do, leave me a comment below. I'll enter your name in the hat for EACH comment you submit.

So, if you shared this post on Facebook, simply write that in the comment field and I'll add your name to the hat.

That means that you can enter your name up to 6 times!

I'll draw the name for the winner tomorrow morning and announce it here tomorrow.

Good luck!

Ebook sale and giveaway!

2011-11-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

I hope you were able to attend the webinar tonight by Michael Tierra and me.

I am almost done with the ebook that accompanies the webinar. This ebook contains all the information presented in the webinar plus lots more recipes and more in depth information about herbs.

You can sign up for my newsletter in the list below to be notified of when it goes on sale.

In the days leading up to the sale of the ebook I am going to be hosting a giveaway! By signing up below you'll find out about how you can win the wonderful herbal prizes this week, including books, games and herbal medicine.

Prizes will be shipped to US only. However if I draw someone's name who lives in another country I'll be sure to give them an ebook (free shipping!).

On Wednesday, November 23rd I'll be giving away a copy of A Kid's Herb Book by Lesley Tierra and a 4 oz bottle of Well Child form Planetary herbals.

On Thursday I'll be giving away Wildcraft! the herbal adventure board game and Demetria Clark's book, Herbal Healing For Children.

On Friday I'll be giving away an entire year's subscription to the Herbal Roots Zine.

Then on Saturday (cross my fingers the ebook will be done), I'll giveaway a copy of my ebook and put it on sale!

Don't forget to sign up!

Herbal Remedies for fevers ~ part 4

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Lions and Tigers and Fevers, oh my!

Fevers are often the most dreaded aspect of having the flu. They can bring aches and pains with them as well as uncomfortable thermal changes in the body. From cold shivers to waking up drenched in sweat, to aches and pains and restlessness, fevers are not most people’s cup o’ tea.

Many people even fear fevers and this fever seems to be exponentiated when it is a fever in children. Officially called, “fever phobia” there is a current drive to educate people and parents to dispel many of the myths surrounding fevers.

Herbalist jim mcdonald has a great list of resources about “Fever Phobia” here. If you are concerned about fevers or if you often reach for tylenol or NSAIDs during times of fever I highly suggest you take a look at jim’s resource page to better understand fevers.

Beneficial immune system response

Fevers are one of our most important immune system defenses. Physiologically, a fever is created by the hypothalamus gland raising the body temperature in response to detecting bacterial proteins in the body, or the detection of cytokines, which are chemicals released in the body at the site of an infection. The raising of the body temperature is a defense mechanism of the immune system that attempts to kill various viruses and bacteria because they do not tolerate high temperatures.

Not only does the temperature of the body affect pathogenic growth, but fevers also increase blood and lymphatic circulation, thereby helping to deliver a better immune response. Herbalist Paul Bergner says that antibody production is increased 20 fold during a fever.

The fact that fevers are beneficial does not change the fact that they can be uncomfortable. In the herbalist’s paradigm the focus of addressing someone with a fever is not to suppress the fever, but rather to support the person’s immune system as well as bring comfort to the feverish person.

How we do this depends on the state of the person and the stage of the fever. I am going to present a fever in four different stages, which is how I originally learned from Paul Bergner. Please keep in mind that fevers rarely progress along a linear track.

Don’t Forget!

I’ve said it many times in this series on cold and flu, but it is worth mentioning again. Rest and sleep are often the best medicine we can take while we are sick. None of these herbal suggestions are meant to replace rest.

Beginning Stages of a Fever - External Wind-Cold

The first indications of a fever are often feelings of being cold. As discussed above, the hypothalamus detects the need to raise the body’s set point temperature. In this first stage the patient often feels cold as the body attempts to heat up. Shivering, which raises the metabolism up to 30%, may occur to increase body temperature and there is usually an aversion to cold and to wind.

In this stage we often instinctually reach for more clothes, take a warm bath, or crawl under the covers. By taking these actions we are helping the inherent wisdom of the body by taking care to warm up!

Another highly effective approach during this stage of the fever is sweating therapy. If you don't have easy access to a sauna, this can be done by putting your feet in a tub of water while sitting in a chair. The water should be as hot as possible without causing discomfort. Then, wrap a sheet and then a thick blanket around yourself, covering your body, the steaming water and chair. Leave your head poking out. The steam will heat up your tent giving you a DIY sauna. Keep up the sauna, changing out the water as necessary, for as long as it feels good to you.

We can further help support our immune system by administering warming and stimulating diaphoretics. Warming or stimulating diaphoretics, sometimes referred to as diffusive herbs, increase the core temperature that then radiates to the surface.

Materia Medica of Warming and Stimulating Diaphoretics

In general we want to give the following herbs as hot teas. Tinctures can also be used by placing the tincture in hot water.

Ginger

I’ve mentioned ginger in every part of this series. It’s true that if I only had one herb during a respiratory infection, I would want it to be ginger.

I discuss it here for the first stages of a cold or flu and here for a sore throat.

This spicy herb is an effective stimulating diaphoretic. You can use fresh or dried ginger root (actually rhizome) for this, I prefer dried since it is spicier in nature. For the best results make the strongest decoction you can of the root. I generally use 2 tablespoons of dried root to about10 ounces of water. If this is too strong for you, dilute it with some water and then use less root next time.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Yarrow is famous for it’s ability to aid a person during a fever. Like most herbs it refuses to be categorized and I use it both during the cold stages of a fever and the warm stages. You can also take a dropperful of the tincture in a quarter cup of warm/hot water. Read more about yarrow here.

Butterfly on yarrow flowers

The following recipe is a wonderful tea blend for fevers that is beneficial for most people during the various stages. I think it is important that we learn to differentiate what herbs to use for specific stages and people. However, for those friends and family less herbally nerdy than myself I often give them this tea blend to have on hand since it just plain helps fevers. I’ve heard that this recipe comes from the European Gypsies.

Gypsy Tea for Fevers

1 part elder flower

1 part yarrow leaf and flower

½ part peppermint

½ part rose hips

Garlic (Allium spp.)

Take one bite of a fresh clove of garlic and you’ll have no doubt about this potent herb’s facility to heat the body. You can read more about the different ways of taking this herb in previous parts of this series.

Bee balm (Monarda spp.) and Thyme (Thymus spp.)

These two herbs have very similar actions, although I often find bee balm to be spicier. These are two delicious herbs that can be enjoyed as hot teas. You can read more about bee balm here.

Bee balm

Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs associated with the Liver are often used during times of fever. I’ve only just begun to use western “liver” herbs for fevers but wanted to mention this since it is my current interest.

Popular Chinese formulas for fevers include Gan Mao Ling which is a formula commonly used for External Wind-Heat (see below). And Minor Blue Dragon Combination (Xiao Qing Long Tang) is more commonly used for External Wind-Cold.

Minor Bupleurum Combination (Xiao Chai Hu Tang) is an interesting formula built around Bupleurum and Skullcap (Huang Qin) that is used for lingering colds and flu and for those manifestations that are half internal and half external, half hot and half cold and half excess half deficient.

You can buy these formulas as patent formulas, but more traditional medicine would formulate these core formulas to match the person more closely.

Warm stages of a fever - External Wind-Heat

The second stage is when the body temperature has reached the set point. The thermometer will read a higher temperature.

During this stage of the fever the pulse may be rapid and strong, there may be a yellow coating on the tongue and the skin may feel warm and dry. Drowsiness may also result. The patient is no longer shivering. Although keep in mind that once we have a fever the temperature is rarely set in stone. It’s quite normal to see temperatures rising and lowering slightly.

During this stage we want to focus on the following: rest, a well-ventilated room, being hydrated with an emphasis on lukewarm drinks rather than hot beverages and bringing comfort to the person with a fever. Hydrotherapy can also be employed by taking tepid (not cold) baths.

Herbally speaking we generally use relaxing diaphoretics during this time. Relaxing diaphoretics open the pores, letting the heat escape. To borrow a analogy from jim mcdonald, it’s like opening a window in a hot a stuffy room.

Pain and restlessness are the biggest complaints during this stage of the fever. Using herbs to soothe and comfort the feverish person are also quite welcome.

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

During a fever it’s common to experience general aches and pains throughout the body. These aches are from muscle tissue being broken down as a result of amino acids being taken from the muscles. Once these amino acids are freed up they are utilized in anti-body production, white blood cell production, and tissue repair. Boneset, which we will discuss below is specific for helping this phase of a fever.

Boneset has been an important herb historically during intense flu outbreaks. The common name most likely refers to its use during an illness when the “bones feel like breaking.” It was used extensively during the flu outbreak of 1918 as well as for dengue (an acute febrile infection in the tropics) outbreaks. It is specific for when you feel the aches and pains of a fever.

Boneset also has immunostimulant properties and has been clinically shown to increase phagocytosis (Bergner). This may make it another important regimen at the beginning stages of a cold or flu.

If you feel the aches creeping in, have a 1⁄2 cup serving of warm boneset tea. Drink this bitter herb too hot and it can cause vomiting.

I am going to warn you that this is generally not people’s favorite herb to taste. It’s incredibly bitter. Adding elderflowers, rose hips and mint may slightly improve its taste. Many people find that it bring such welcome relief to their aches and pains that they become accustomed to the taste and even welcome it during feverish stages.

Elderflower (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis)

Elderflower is a relaxing diaphoretic that is effective, yet extremely gentle. Young children, expecting mothers, and elders can use this herb as needed. I often tell parents that this is the one herb to have on hand for their child’s illness.

One common formula is to mix elderflowers with mints. I usually take my elderflower in a tea blend as listed in the above section on yarrow. You can also place a cup of elderflowers in a quart mason jar, fill with just boiled water, strain after a half hour and then drink lukewarm.

Elderflowers near Escalante, Utah

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Chamomile often doesn’t get the respect it deserves! This is a wonderful herb to use in fevers and is especially useful for calming a distressed child (along with hugs and comfort from caregivers) and for those aches and pains. But don’t get fooled into thinking chamomile is a “child’s herb.” It can soothe us adults as well and bring a lot of relief from pain during a fever.

Chamomile

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

Another safe yet effective plant, catnip has a mild taste makes it a good choice for little ones.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

Another relaxing diaphoretic, lemon balm can also soothe the nerves to allay stress and reduce the duration and painfulness of fever blisters (herpes virus). More info here.

The Third Stage

During the third stage of fever the hypothalamus lowers the set point temperature to normal. The body’s cooling response is to sweat profusely. This “breaking of the fever” involves profuse sweating and is often accompanied by the throwing off of the covers.

It’s normal during this third stage for there to be a fluctuation of temperatures, so a person may feel chilled and then too hot, then chilled and then too hot and so on. In the end the temperature can often linger about a degree too high and will then, eventually, fall to normal.

Willow (Salix spp.)

Willow bark is specific for intermittent fevers or those fevers with fluctuating temperatures. I generally use it as a tincture in lukewarm water but you could certainly use it as a decoction as well. More info here.

Stay hydrated!

In this stage the highest risk from harm is due to dehydration. Throughout all the stages of a fever a person should be kept well-hydrated, but this becomes especially important during this stage due to the large loss of liquid through the sweating process.

Aviva Romm suggest the following blend to help balance the electrolytes and keep some dehydrated.

Quart of water

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

2-3 tablespoons of honey or sugar

juice of half a lemon

Mix all the ingredients together (you may need to heat the mixture slightly to get everything to blend well). Then drink often as sips.

Fourth Stage of the Fever

The fourth stage involves repairing and healing. Generally it is recommend that a person recovering from a feverish illness rest two days for every three days of fever. It’s also important to eat easily digestible protein (such as bone broth soups), to shower, to change sheets and generally making sure you are nourished, rested, clean, and comfortable. Returning to a regular regime too quickly can further compromise your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to sickness in the future.

Fever Considerations

When is a temperature too high?

It’s important to not become too obsessed with the numbers on the thermometer. The best indication that a fever has become serious enough for more advanced care is the state of the person or child. Delirium, loss of consciousness or extreme fatigue are all serious signs.

Anytime severe dehydration comes in to play also indicates time for medical treatment.

In a normal person a fever has to get extremely high before it will cause injury. Human cells start dying at 110⁰.

Truly the highest risk from fevers is from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

However, there are special considerations when dealing with infants and the elderly or anyone who has a compromised immune system such as AIDS, cancer, or prolonged illness.

Bergner relates a review published in the conservative medical journal The New

English Journal of Medicine that looked at the treatment of fevers. It concluded

that there are three classes of people for whom lowering the fever is beneficial.

people with heart disease (because the heart has to work really hard during a fever)
very weak patients (increased metabolic demand may be too much)
some cases of pulmonary disease

Basically if you have special health circumstances or if you are caretaking someone with a fever who is displaying alarming signs (as stated above) then please seek medical help.

To eat or not to eat?

Ever wonder why it’s commonly said to starve a fever and feed a cold? When a person’s temperature rises one degree past their normal set point their natural appetite disappears. This is due to amino acids in the body being used for the immune response rather than for digestion. Ingesting bone broth soups and nutritious teas and infusions will serve you much better than eating while you have a fever. Once a temperature returns to normal, regular foods can be introduced back into the diet.

Most importantly do not force yourself to eat during illness. Stay hydrated and only eat when hungry.

Febrile seizures

A febrile seizure is a convulsion triggered by a rise in body temperature. It is a myth that high fevers cause febrile seizures. If children are prone to febrile seizures then that seizure will happen as easily at 101⁰ as it will at a higher temperature.

Paul Bergner:

Febrile seizures in children are not correlated with the severity of the fever. The cause is generally unknown, and they affect 3-5% of children in the U.S. and about 15% in some countries. Giving antipyretic drugs does not reduce the incidence of future seizures in children. Most disappear by age five. Most do not indicate a serious cerebral disease.

If a baby is experiencing a febrile seizure it is recommended to place the baby on their side to allow for saliva to flow from the mouth to keep the baby from choking. If a seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes call 911.

Herbalist Kiva Rose told me about using elderflower for those children who are prone to febrile seizures. It’s believed to help reset the fever mechanism.

In treating fevers use your best judgment and remember our job is to support the body’s natural functions, not quell symptoms. Fevers can be serious – if in doubt seek more advanced care.

Further resources

Acute Symptoms CD set from Paul Bergner

jim mcdonald podcast on fevers

myths about fevers

Todd Caldecott on Colds and Flu

Photo Friday - Oregon Grape Root

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Photo Friday is here. Every other Friday I choose a plant and post a plethora of photos amidst some herbal tidbits.

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine called to ask for a favor. She had a fairly large oregon grape plant in the middle of her garden. She had let it grow there since it was part of the native landscape. However, after years of watering and compost it was stretching too big. Would I be interested in harvesting it? she asks.

Hell yes!

It took me three hours to completely uproot the plant and then another 7 hours to scrape off the root bark for tincture. Spending hours with this plant and crafting it into medicine was well worth it!

So in homage to this beautiful plant, I chose Oregon Grape Root for this week's Photo Friday.

There are several species of this plant that grow frequently in the Pacific Northwest. According to Tom Elpel there are 520 species worldwide. Mahonia aquifolium is the one that grows most frequently around me. Mahonia nervosa is frequently found on the other side of the Mountains. You can tell the two species apart by how many leaflets they have.

Sometimes referred to as Tall Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium has 7-9 leaflets.

photo from wiki commons

Sometimes referred to as Dull Oregon Grape, Mahonia nervosa has 9-19 leaflets.

True to its name, Tall Oregon Grape grows quite tall and can form dense patches of shrubs.

In the spring yellow flowers appear bloom from the holly-like leaves. These flowers are edible. They have a slightly sour taste that goes well mixed into wild salad greens.

Photo from wiki commons

Oregon Grape flowers have parts in threes. The above photo shows the 6 stamens, six petals and six sepals really well.

The very young tender leaves can also be eaten. We chop them up finely and sprinkle them over vegetables and meats.

Once the leaves have matured however, they are quite spiny. I've often been pricked so deeply I've bled from the spines of the leaflets.

Photo from wiki commons

The yellow flowers emerge into purplish blue berries. These berries can be coaxed into edibility. Be warned, depending on climate these are disastrously sour. I've had pretty decent oregon grape wine. Most people add loads of sugar to them to make syrups and jams.

If the berries can be described as disastrously sour, then the roots are are decidedly bitter.

The yellow coloring is due in part to the constituent berberine. In the herbal world you'll often hear people refer to "berberine plants". Oregon grape root, goldenseal, coptis and others all contain this constituent and are somewhat interchangeable for its action on the liver and its anti-microbial properties.

It's vibrant yellow coloring also lends itself well to being a dye plant.

At Mountain Rose's first annual Rootstalk festival I took a class from the infamous Howie Brounstein solely on Oregon grape root. The class was filled with interesting and humorous insights from his lifetime of working closely with this plant.

Besides learning how it had saved his life (when he had a nasty tooth abscess while he was stranded on an island), I also learned about recent research showing how is contains a specific multidrug resistance pump inhibitor (MDR Inhibitor) named 5'-methoxyhydnocarpin (5'-MHC).

At the time that was Greek to me too.

Basically, what this means is that it works to decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics and antibacterial agents. Since resistance to bacteria is becoming an increasingly alarming problem this is fantastic news. Howie says that pharmaceutical companies are rushing to patent this constituent. (insert snarky comment here)

Oregon grape root is being threatened with over-harvesting due, in part, to the florist business. Those green leaflets stay vibrant looking long after they are picked making them very desirable for arrangements. Keep an eye on your local plants and report any illegal harvesting that you see.

When harvesting the root for your personal use, learn how to harvest it sustainably. Horizontal and somewhat superficial roots can be sparingly harvested from the plant, leaving the remaining plant to grow.

This fall I tinctured five quarts of the root bark. They'll go to good use at the Methow Herbal Health Center.

Resources
Very informative monograph by Kiva
King's American Dispensary on Henriette's site
Further information about 5'-MHC