antiseptic Archives - Herbal Encyclopedia

Thyme

Botanical and Common Names

Family Labiatae
Thymus vulgaris (Thyme, Common thyme, Garden thyme, Tomillo [Spanish], Tohmiyoxihutil [Nahuatl])
Thymus serpyllum (Wild Thyme, Mother of Thyme, Serpyllum, Shepherd’s Thyme)

Cautions

Do not use during pregnancy, externally or internally, as it is a uterine stimulant. There is little problem with normal cooking amounts.
Thyme oil can irritate mucous membranes so must be well diluted.

Description

Thyme is native to the western Mediterranean and southern Italian regions, while the wild thyme is indigenous to southern Europe. It is now cultivated worldwide, preferring light, chalky soils. The plant is an aromatic perennial shrub of the mint family, growing to about sixteen inches in height and producing woody stems, small leaves, and pink flowers. Wild thyme is a tuft-forming evergreen herb, growing to a height of only three inches. It has square stems, small aromatic oval leaves, and spikes of bright mauve flowers. Garden thyme is the cultivated form of the wild thyme. There are many related species with each having a different volatile oil content. The aerial parts are harvested before and during flowering.

History

It is known as “mother thyme” because of its traditional use for women’s disorders.

Thyme’s fragrance has inspired poets from Virgil to Kipling; and it is particularly strong on the warm, sunny hillsides of the Mediterranean.

To the Greeks, thyme denoted elegance; and, after bathing, they would include the oil in their massage.

Its botanical designation may have been derived from the Greek word thymon, meaning “courage” as many of their traditions relate to this virtue.

Wild thyme received its botanical name from the plant’s serpentlike appearance. Pliny recommended it as an antidote for snakebites and other poisonous creatures and for headaches. The Romans burned the plant in a belief that the fumes would repel scorpions.

Roman soldiers bathed in thyme waters to give themselves vigor.

During the Middle Ages, European ladies embroidered a sprig of thyme on tokens for their knights-errant.

A soup recipe from 1663 recorded the use of the herb, as well as in a beer to overcome shyness.

Scottish highlanders drank tea made from wild thyme for strength and courage and to prevent nightmares.

Its powerful antiseptic and preservative qualities were well-known to the Egyptians, who used it for embalming. It was also used to preserve anatomical and herbarium specimens and to protect paper from mold.

Sprigs were included in judges’ posies and clasped by nobility to protect themselves from disease and odour.

Thyme is the first herb listed in the Holy Herb Charm recited by those with herbal cunning during the Middle Ages, and it is a feature in a recipe from 1600 that “enabled one to see the Fairies”.

The English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper (1616-1654), praised thyme as a strengthener of the lungs and prescribed it for children who had whooping cough. He also used it for internal bleeding and vomiting.

The 18th century Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, used the plant to treat headaches and hangovers.

In an Aztec Herbal of 1552, a plant identified as thyme was included in an elaborate remedy for nursing mothers whose breasts failed to produce a necessary supply of milk.

By the 18th century, thyme’s antiseptic properties were known; and its oil, thymol, was extracted and made available.

It was widely used as an antiseptic during WWI; but, when shortages of thymol developed, it was gradually replaced by other antiseptics. Thymol remains a key ingredient in the mouthwash, Listerine.

In the late 19th century, thyme was used as a disinfectant in sickrooms and to speed the recovery of patients.

Key Actions

(a) Thyme

antiseptic
antispasmodic
astringent
antimicrobial
antiparasitic
antibiotic
diuretic
expectorant
heals wounds
increases blood flow to an area (topically)
soothes coughs
uterine stimulant

(b) Wild Thyme

actions similar to those of Garden thyme, but less potent than the essential oil.

Key Components

(a) Thyme

volatile oil (varying amounts of thymol, carvacrol, methylchavicol, cineol, borneol, and others)
bitter principle
saponins
triterpenes
flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin)
tannins
resins

(b) Wild Thyme

volatile oil (thymol, carvacrol, linalool)
flavonoids
caffeic acid
tannins
resin

Medicinal Parts

Aerial parts, essential oil (garden thyme only), flowering tops (wild thyme)

Thymol has antiseptic properties effective against many organisms.

Thymol, carvacrol, and the saponins act as expectorants to loosen and thin phlegm thus relieving upper respiratory and sinus congestion.

Thymol and carvacrol help relax smooth muscles, thereby helping to relieve menstrual cramps or indigestion.

The tannins have astringent properties that relieve mild diarrhea.

When applied to the skin, thymol causes blood to rush to the site, creating a sense of warmth and relief from the pain and inflammation of arthritis, sprains, muscle aches, and possibly tension headaches.

Researchers have also demonstrated that the essential oils are effective in killing E. coli and certain other bacteria responsible for food poisoning.

Remedies

Infusions are used for chest infections, stomach chills, or irritable bowel.

A tincture is used for diarrhea or as an expectorant in chest infections.

A gargle from the infusion or diluted tincture is mused for sore throats.

A douche is made from the infusions to treat vaginal yeast infections.

A syrup is made from infusion for coughs and lung infections.

A chest rub from the essential oil is used for chest infections.

Essential oil is applied to insect bites, including scabies, and infected wounds or added to the bathwater for weakness and arthritic conditions.

Massage oil from the essential oil and combined with lavender oil makes an effective treatment for rheumatic pains or strained muscles.

Traditional Uses

The wild thyme is similar in action to the garden thyme, but slightly more stimulating and effective in preventing spasms.

Its antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties are used to treat all manner of infections including coughs, colds, sore throats, tonsillitis, flu, chest infections, and gastroenteritis. It also enhances immunity and helps the body fight against infection.

Its expectorant action, combined with its antispasmodic effect, is excellent for moving phlegm out of the chest easing tight, irritating, and hacking coughs.

Its antispasmodic effect is also helpful in releasing tension during irritable bowel syndrome and spastic colon.

Its astringent action, along with its antiseptic powers, makes it worth using to treat diarrhea and bowel infections and to re-establish a normal flora in the bowel, especially after antibiotics.

Thyme is a particularly good remedy for those suffering from poor circulation, and when used externally, makes a good liniment for arthritis or muscle pain. It can also be applied to cuts, abrasions, and infections.

The volatile oils and the flavonoids are known to relieve muscle spasms, as well as having a marked effect on aging by supporting the body’s normal funtion and countering its ageing effects.

Thyme is prescribed with other herbs for asthma, especially in children, and may also be helpful with hay fever.

In Costa Rica, it is used to expel intestinal worms, to treat warts, diarrhea, toothache, whooping cough, scabies, and flatulence. It is also considered as a powerful lung strengthener.

Used in aromatherapy, thyme is a remedy for PMS, stress, fatigue, and mild depression.

Tea Tree

Botanical and Common Names

Family Myrtaceae
Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil)
Other species that provide valuable oil:
Melaleuca leucadendron (Cajuput, White Tea Tree, Swamp Tea Tree, Paperbark Tree, White Wood)
Melaleucea viridiflora (Niauli is a broad-leafed paperbark tree.)
Melaleucea linariifolia has an essential oil that is very similar to tea tree.

Cautions

None listed.

Description

Native to Australia and Tazmania, tea tree is now widely used in Europe, Australia, and North America. The evergreen shrub is related to the myrtle tree, reaching over twenty feet in height and having a papery bark, pointed needle-like leaves, and heads of yellow or purplish flowers that when open, resemble a puffy, feathery mass. The tree flourishes wild in swampy areas in northern New South Wales and Queensland, but is now extensively cultivated, especially on plantations in Asia and other parts of the world. The Tea Tree produces an essential oil that has unique infection-fighting properties. The leaves and small branches are picked throughout the year and distilled to produce the essential oil.

History

Native Australians have used tea tree oil for centuries, but it was unknown to the rest of the world until the late 1700s when Captain James Cook led an expedition there and began experimenting with the leaves. The crew brewed a lemon-flavoured tea from the leaves and added it to a beer they had concocted. They also gave it its name as a result. On later voyages, a botanist who travelled with Captain Cook observed how the aborgines used the shrub to heal infected wounds. But this information did not make an impact on the rest of the world until the 1920s when a Syndey research chemist, A. R. Penfold, studied the oil and discovered its antiseptic properties. By 1925, Penfold determined that the oil was twelve times as potent as phenol, the standard by which all antiseptics were measured at the time.

Australian pharmacists and doctors then began dispensing tea tree as a front-line antiseptic. Bushmen and adventurers would not enter the wilderness without it. It was standard issue for first aid kits for British and Australian soldiers stationed in the tropics during WWII, and proved to be so valuable that workers who processed it were exempt from military duty. As with all things, demand soon quickly outstripped supply and interest waned after the advent of penicillin. Tea tree oil was almost forgotten; but, with the growing problems of antibiotic-resistant organisms, it has, once again, made a revival. Demand for the oil has increased from about ten tons in the early 1990s to more than two hundred tons today.

Extensive research in the 1960s showed that tea tree was very effective in treating a broad range of infectious conditions, especially fungal skin conditions, as well as warts, acne, and vaginal yeast infections.

Key Actions

strongly antimicrobial
antiseptic
immune stimulant

Key Components

volatile oil (percentages are variable, but basically -– terpinen-4-ol [40%], gamma-terpinene [24%], alpha-terpinene [10%], and cineol [5%])

Medicinal Parts

Leaves, essential oil

Scientists have identified eighty of the estimated one hundred compounds in tea tree oil, and a few are unique to the plant. Some of these compounds are active against viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Most of these compounds are chemicals classified as either terpene hydrocarbons (pinene) or oxygenated terpenes (mostly 60% terpinen-4-ol plus cineole). Terpinen-4-ol is a powerful germacide, fungicide, and significantly antiseptic but well tolerated by the skin. Cineole, on the other hand, can irritate the skin of some people, but has expectorant and antiseptic properties. Cineole is also found in eucalyptus. It is these antiseptic properties that make it especially valuable in treating various skin infections.

It is especially useful as a hospital disinfectant as it kills antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus.

Testing has found it effective against many other organisms as well, including all strains of candida except Epidermophyton floccosum, all sixty-four strains of Malassezia furfur, and eighty other types of disease-causing fungi. The following is a list of organisms that tea tree oil has proven its effectiveness against: aspergillus, bacteroides, Clostridium, Cryptosporidium, Diptheroids, E. coli, Enterobacter, Fusobacterium, Gonococcus, Hemophilus, Herpes viruses, Meningococcus, Microsporium, Peptococcus, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Spirochetes, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Trichinosis, Trichophyton.

Remedies

Crushed leaves have long been used in hot water as an inhalent to relieve sinus congestion.

Infusions made from crushed fresh leaves are used to treat coughs, colds, and skin infections. They are used internally to treat glandular fever and postviral fatigue syndrome (ME). They can also be used in household cleaning wash water, as well as in the laundry or diaper soaking water.

Oil or cream can be applied to athlete’s foot and ringworm, as well as to corns, warts, acne, boils, nail fungi, infected skin sores, burns, scrapes, wounds, insect stings, and many other skin conditions.

Mouthwash is used for oral infections and gum disease, as well as a gargle for sore throats.

Suppositories are used to treat vaginal infections.

Lotions, creams, or compresses ease the pain and itchiness of skin irritations.

Commercially prepared products available are as follows: pure oil, creams and ointments, mouthwashes, toothpicks, germicides, shampoos and conditioners, hand creams, bar soaps, pet shampoos, suppositories, lozenges, dental floss, massage oil, and deoderant.

Traditional Uses

Conditions where tea tree oil has proven useful and listed according to body region:

Head and Neck: dandruff, seborrhea, psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, furunculosis, razor cuts, mastoiditis, head lice, cradle cap, acne, and blackheads. Note: Nizoral has long been used to treat psoriasis of the scalp, but long term cures do not take place. In addition, it carries risk of systemic toxicity especially that of the liver. Tea tree does not cause this concern. It also produces fewer side effects than benzoyl peroxide, used to treat acne.
Face: razor cuts, acne
Mouth, Throat, Ears: controls oral bacteria when a few drops are added to a gargle and helps heal canker sores, cold sores, pyorrhea, cavities, toothaches, ear infections (outer and middle ear), sore throats, colds, thrush, halitosis; promotes the healing of gum disease, canker sores, and herpes sores
Hands: paronychia, fingernail fungus
Joints: arthritis, gout
Respiratory system: bronchitis, sinusitis, croup, tonsillitis
Urinary tract: cystitis
Rectum: shrinking hemorrhoids and reducing pain, including that of rectal fissures
Genitals: herpes and warts, vaginitis (including trichomonas), penile discharge, excessive odour, jock itch, chronic candidiasis
Feet: bromhidrosis, toenail fungus, ingrown toenails, calluses, corns, athelete’s foot.
Skin: kills microbes associated with skin infections, including bacteria or viruses in wounds; such fungal infections as ringworm or athlete’s foot, nail fungus, thrush, and jock itch ; and eczema, psoriasis, ringworm, boils, cuts, abrasions, scrapes, puncture wounds, bed sores, varicose ulcers, surgical lesions, burns, itchy or chapped skin, scabies, pilonidal cysts, impetigo, dermatitis, allergy rashes (including poison ivy, oak, and sumac), chicken pox and shingles, and animal bites (including those by dogs, cats, snakes, insects, and humans)
Joints: eases muscle and joint pain and inflammation

Also see our Surivon products which use tea tree essential oil to help symptoms of cold sores, shingles, herpes, and other antiviral skin care needs.

Rose

Botanical and Common Names

Family Rosaceae
Rosa species
R. canina (Wild Rose, Dog Rose, Rose Hip, Brier Hip, Hip, Brier Rose, Eglantine Gall, Hogseed, Dog-berry, Sweet Brier, Witches’ Brier, Hep Tree, Hip Fruit, Hop Fruit, Hipberries)
R. arkansana (Prairie Wild Rose, Sunshine Rose, Arkansas Rose, Meadow Rose, Pasture Rose)
R. laevigata (Cherokee Rose)
R. gallica var. centifolia (Apothacary’s Rose, French Rose, Cabbage Rose, Hundred-leafed Rose)
R. damascena (Damask Rose)
R. rugosa (Rugosa Rose, Saltspray Rose, Beach Tornado)
R. multiflora (Japanese Rose)

Cautions

Use only the rose species listed here for medicinal purposes and not garden hybrids.

Because of the high price of rose oil, adulteration is common. Therefore, for medicinal purposes, use only the best high quality, genuine rose oil.

Consumers should be aware of the fact that much of the natural vitamin C in some rosehip products is lost in the manufacturing process. To compensate, some fortify the products with artificial vitamin C.

Description

Rose species are native to various places, but most are from the Middle East. They have been cultivated for thousands of years, but some can still be found in the wild although most are cultivated for commercial or private use. Typically, roses are climbing or bushy perennials with thorny stems and varying shapes and colours of flowers. All have a unique rose scent. The wild roses typically grow everywhere on the prairies of North America in ravines and stream banks, bluffs, thickets, and along roadsides and railroads.

History

In the 1st century CE, Pliny the Elder recorded thirty-two different medicinal uses of the rose.

Roses were grown in medieval gardens more for medicine and food than for beauty.

Ironically, the Cherokee rose is native to China, but now grows throughout much of North America and is the state flower of Georgia. It was used in China to treat diarrhea.

In the 19th century, it was proven that roses contain essential oils. Rose oil is distilled from the petals and used in aromatherapy.

With the discovery of vitamin C in the 1930s, and subsequent claims by Linus Pauling that massive doses of the nutrient could cure the common cold, rosehips have been of much interest because of their high content of this nutrient.

Unlike Western medicine, all indigenous cultures believe that there is no separation between the physical and the mental or spiritual being, and both must be assessed before healing occurs. The same belief has long been held true regarding the rose and is seen in this saying, “Roses are good for the skin and the soul”.

The botanical name of the Wild Rose is reflected in its use by the Romans. R. canina species was used for rabid dog bites.

Roses continued as official medicine until well into the 1930s (British Pharmacopoeia) when the tincture of the Apothocary’s Rose was prescribed for sore throats. Roses were also widely used as mild astringents and to flavour other medicines.

There were dozens of varieties of roses in North America. The Native Americans learned how to use whatever grew in their region, as a medicine and, in cases of emergency, as a food. The leaves, petals, hips, and roots were widely used for a variety of conditions, including colds, fevers, diarrhea, influenza, and stomach troubles.

The Omahas steeped the hips or roots to make a wash to treat eye inflammations.

In the Great Lakes region, the Chippewas made a tea from the wild rose and used the berries for food and for diseases of the eye. They used the inner bark of the roots to treat cataracts.

The Pawnees collected the insect galls from the lower parts of the stems, and charred and crushed them for use in dressings for burns. The insect or disease-produced galls were found in the archaeological remains of the Hill Site, near present-day Guide Rock, Nebraska, which was occupied by the Pawnees in the early 1800s.

The Flathead and Cheyenne tribes treated snow blindness with an eyewash made by boiling the petals, stem bark, or root bark. The Cheyenne also boiled the inner bark to make a tea valued for treating diarrhea and stomach trouble.

Many other tribes used all parts of the plant for various remedies. The Crows boiled the crushed roots and used them in hot compresses to reduce swellings. They also sniffed vapor to stop bleedings from the nose or mouth.

The Arapahos used the seeds to produce a drawing effect for muscular pain.

Key Actions

antidepressant
antispasmodic
aphrodisiac
astringent
antibacterial
antiviral
antiseptic
anti-inflammatory
blood tonic
cleansing
digestive stimulant
expectorant
increases bile production
kidney tonic
menstrual regulator

Key Components

volatile oil
vitamins and minerals (especially A, B, E, and K, potassium and iron)

Medicinal Parts

Flowers, petals, rosehips, root, root bark, essential oil

There are some 300 chemical constituents of which only about 100 have been identified.

Depending on the source, some rose teas are able to supply as much as 1000 mg. per cup. Recent studies now indicate that taking more than 2000 mg. of vitamin C per day changes the vitamin into a pro-oxidant that actually increases cellular damage caused by unstable free radicals. Other experts seem to think that this action takes place with as little as 1000 mg. of vitamin C per day.

Remedies

The seeds of the Japanese rose are used in Oriental medicine as a diuretic and laxative.

Infusions of dried rose petals are used for headaches and taken after meals to aid digestion.

Steam inhalation of a decoction of rose petals, lavender, and hops help induce sleep.

Compresses soaked in infusions of the dried flowers make a good anti-inflammatory remedy for the eyes or any other inflamed area of the body and applied cool for headaches.

Rosehip tincture is an effective astringent for treating diarrhea or in relieving colic or as a component in cough remedies.

Rosehip syrup is used as a cough remedy or taken as a source of vitamin C.

Rosehip decoction is taken with other herbs to treat chronic diarrhea associated with stomach weaknesses.

Flower decoctions are taken with motherwort for heavy menstruation or combined with Chinese herbs for liver dysfunctions.

Tinctures from the petals are used for diarrhea or sluggish digestion. When combined with other herbs, they areused to treat irregular or heavy menstruation.

Gargles made from petal infusions, used alone or combined with sage, are used for sore throats.

Creams from the essential oil are used to treat dry or inflamed skin.

Lotions from the essential oil are combined with lady’s mantle tincture for vaginal itching.

Rosewater combined with equal amounts of witch hazel is used as a moisturizing lotion for skin prone to pimples or acne. (Rosewater is a by-product of the steam distillation of Bulgarian rose oil and is used as a skin remedy.)

A few drops of essential oil can be added to bathwater for depression, grief, or insomnia.

Massage oil is made by mixing a few drops of essential oil with a neutral oil and used to relieve stress and exhaustion or for sluggish digestion.

Traditional Uses

The dried hips of the wild rose are especially high in vitamin C, having three times that of citrus fruits, and have long been used to prevent scurvy.

The Chinese use the flowers as a qi or energy stimulant and blood tonic to relieve stagnant liver energies. They are also used for digestive irregularities or with motherwort for heavy menstruation.

The Damask rose blooms for only a couple of weeks, during which time the petals are collected and steam distilled to produce true Bulgarian rose oil used in about 96% of all women’s perfumes. Medicinally, it is an important nervine used for depression and anxiety.

The cabbage rose is used to produce French rose oil, which differs significantly in its chemical composition from Bulgarian rose oil and has a reputation as an aphrodisiac.

Search Cloverleaf Farm for Rose

Pine

Botanical Name

Family Pinaceae
Pinus species

Common Names

Scotch Pine, Dwarf-Pine, White Pine, Pine Oils, Pix Liquida, Pumilio Pine, Scotch Fir, Stockhom Tar, Swiss Mountain Pine
Spanish: Ocote, Trementina de Piñon, Aguarrás
Nahuatl: Ocotl, Oxitl, Ocotzotl, Ocoxóchitl

Cautions

Do not use if prone to allergic reactions.
Do not take internally if suffering from bronchial asthma or whooping cough.
Do not take essential oil internally.

Description

Native to the mountainous regions of the world, the pine is still widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is a coniferous tree, growing to 150 feet with reddish-brown bark, fine linear needle-like leaves, yellowish buds in winter, and oval to conical-shaped cones. The leaves are gathered in summer, while the stems are harvested only when the tree is felled.

History

Ancient Mexicans used pine resin to make ointments. According to the Aztec Herbal, compiled in 1552, a recipe using pine needles and flowers in a liquor was placed in the armpits of the sick in order to remove the “evil smell”. The same book also mentions a recipe for an enema to alleviate dysentery.

Several species of the pine that grow in North America have long been used by Native Americans for their lumber, bark, needles, cones, and seeds. However, it is the white or soft pine (P. strobus) that appeared to be especially beneficial. The Chippewa treated cuts and wounds by making a decoction of the trunk bark, then combining it with the inner bark of the wild cherry and wild plum. Other tribes used compresses of pine to treat burns and other injuries. Teas were made from the needles.

Pine is still a favourite added to disinfectants and other household cleaners.

The distilled resin produces turpentine.

Key Actions

antiseptic
anti-inflammatory
diuretic
expectorant

Key Components

volatile oil (mainly pinene, limonene)

Medicinal Parts

Resin, bark, needles, branches, stems, seeds, essential oil

Traditional Uses

In Mexico, the resin, called trementina or aquarrás, is used to make a liniment for arthritis and rheumatism. It is also taken internally in small doses for dry mouth, dry and sore throat, and bronchitis.

Pine needles are brewed to make an expectorant tea. They also have an antiseptic effect within the respiratory tract, making it useful for colds and bronchitis.

The seeds yield an essential oil with diuretic and respiratory-stimulating qualities. It is used as an inhalation therapy for asthma, respiratory infections, bronchitis and tuberculosis. It is also used for digestive disorders and bladder infections.

A decoction of the seeds may be applied to suppress excessive vaginal discharge.

Cinnamon

Botanical and Common Names

Family Lauraceae
Cinnamomum aromaticum (Chinese Cinnamon, Cassia, False Cinnamon, Bastard Cinnamon, Cassia Lignea, Cassia Bark, Cassia aromaticum, Canton Cassia)
Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor Tree, Gum Camphor, Laurel Camphor, Cemphire)
Cinnamomum verum (Cinnamon, Ceylon Cinnamon)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Sweetwood, True cinnamon, Canela [Spanish])
Cinnamomum cassia (Common cinnamon)

Cautions

Avoid therapeutic doses during pregnancy, as the herb is a uterine stimulant and can cause a miscarriage.
Avoid with nursing mothers as this herb may cause allergic hypersensitivity due to its cinnamein content. E.
Use with care in overheated or feverish conditions.
Can be toxic if taken in excess.
Avoid with stomach and intestinal ulcers due to its stomachic effect.
Prolonged use of this herb may cause tissue irritation due to potential toxicity.
Gastro-intestinal irritation may result where large amounts are ingested, causing violent vomiting and possible kidney irritation.
Do not take the essential oil internally.
The Camphor oil obtained from a specific variety of cinnamon tree is not for use internally (see separately).
Caution is needed when using the essential oil as it is very strong (6 g of the oil is enough to kill a medium-sized dog in five hours) and must be diluted in a neutral oil before it is used topically.

Description

Native to Sri Lanka and India, cinnamon is now found growing in tropical forests worldwide to an altitude of 1,500 feet above sea level. It is extensively cultivated throughout the tropical regions, especially in the Philippines and West Indies, but mainly as a spice. The plant is a tropical evergreen tree that reaches about thirty feet in height. It has thick, smooth, pale bark and leathery, oval, green leaves with paler undersides and small white flowers. The bark, leaves, and the bluish, oval fruits are fragrant. Only the bark from wild trees is used medicinally as cultivated trees are less potent. After the bark is harvested, it is left twenty-four hours to ferment. The outer bark is then scraped away, leaving the inner bark for use. The inner bark is also distilled for its essential oil.

True cinnamon comes from C. zeylanicum, while the common cinnamon comes from C. cassia. Cassia, whether in oil or powder, is half the strength of true cinnamon. Therefore, it is much more abundant, cheaper, and consequently, less effective medicinally, but fine as a spice. It is the only form found in the US, although there are many other varieties.

History

Cinnamon has a long history of medicinal use and is one of the world’s most important spices.

It is one of the oldest tonic plants in the world. The ancients Theophrastus, Herodotus, Galen, Dioscorides, Pliny, and Strebo all mention it.

Chinese use dates back at least 5,000 years. One Chinese ancient stated that if you took cinnamon with toads’ brains for seven years, you would be able to walk on water, look young forever, and never die. However, it is unlikely that many would want to after such a challenge!

It was first used medicinally in Egypt and India and in parts of Europe since about 500 BCE.

Traditionally, it was taken for colds, flu, and digestive problems and is still used in much the same way today.

Key Actions

antiseptic
astringent
aids digesting
antispasmodic
antibacterial
antifungal
antiviral
anti-nausea
anti-flatulence
anti-diarrheal
carminative
hypoglycemic
promotes sweating
uterine stimulant
warming stimulant

Key Components

volatile oil (up to 4% with cinnamaldehyde 65-70% and eugenol 4-10%)
tannins (condensed)
mucilage
gum
sugars
coumarins

Medicinal Parts

Bark, twigs, essential oil

The cinnamaldehyde has been shown by Japanese researchers to be a sedative and analgesic and thought also to reduce blood pressure and fevers.

One Japanese study showed that it may also help prevent ulcers. This is plausible since it is an antimicrobial and some ulcers are caused by bacteria.

Cinnamon oil has exhibited antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and larvicidal activities. Specifically, constituents in cinnamon are able to kill E. coli, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus. Staph infections usually cause lesions, pustules, and boils that can be terminal if spread to other organs.

Researchers at Kent State University, demonstrated that by adding one part cinnamon to 1000 parts apple cider, the combination killed more than 90% of the E. coli bacteria, a potentially deadly organism that is sometimes found in unpasteurized apple juice.

Eugenol, a chemical found in the oils of cloves, allspice, and cinnamon bark (but not cassia bark) has topical anesthetic properties, explaining its effectiveness as a painkiller for skin wounds.

Remedies

Dried twigs of the cassia are used to relieve “cold” conditions.
Essential oil is used on insect stings.
Tinctures are used for digestion.
Infusions are used for colds and flu.
The powder is used mainly in India to stimulate a weak digestion.

Traditional Uses

Western herbalists generally use the bark of zeylanicum, while the Chinese prefer their own species, cassia.

Regardless of the variety, the bark, leaves, and roots produce essential oils that are used, not only to scent and flavour, but also for tonics, antiseptics, and remedies for flatulence, nausea, colds, and high blood pressure. It has traditionally been used to relieve upset stomachs and gas, diarrhea, as well as for stimulating the appetite and enhancing digestion.

Externally, it reduces the pain of minor cuts and abrasions.

In China, the bark (rou gui) and the twigs (gui zhi) are used for separate conditions. The bark is believed to be best for conditions involving the torso, while the twigs are for fingers and toes.

Cinnamon is often combined with ginger to stimulate circulation and the digestion.

The Chinese believe that cinnamon heats up a cold body, improves circulation, and generally causes the blood to rush, which in turn, will remove toxins faster.

In India, it is used to stimulate inadequate contractions during labor, and is also an effective pain reliever.

In both China and in India, the use of cinnamon is used to promote regular and easy menstrual cycles.

Cinnamon is often used as a flavoring in toothpaste, not only because of its refreshing taste, but also because of its antiseptic properties that help kill bacteria responsible for tooth decay and gum disease.

Cinnamon can also be beneficial to people with type-2 diabetes by reducing the amount of insulin necessary to metabolize glucose. Researchers found that one-eighth of a teaspoon of cinnamon can triple insulin efficiency.

Balsam Fir

Botanical Name

Family Pinaceae
Abies balsamea

Common Names

Canadian Balsam, Canada Balsam

Cautions

None listed

Description

Native to North America, the Balsam Fir is a conical evergreen tree growing to 180 feet, producing aromatic needle-like leaves and purple fir cones. In the eastern US, it is used mainly as a “Christmas tree”, and has long been commercially exploited for its timber. It is the source of the liquid resin called Canada balsam, which is tapped from sixty to eighty-year-old trees in the spring.

History

Dr. Wooster Beech (1794-1868), founder of the Eclectic healing movement, regarded balsam fir as a stimulant and laxative when taken internally and as an emollient and coolant when used externally.

It has an extensive history of medicinal use in North America and Europe for congestion and other infections, but not used much today. It was used mainly by Native Americans and early settlers for a wide variety of conditions.

Key Actions

antiseptic
coolant
decongestant
emollient
laxative
stimulant

Key Components

liquid oleo-resin

Medicinal Parts

Needles, resin, roots, branches, bark

Traditional Uses

The resin was used in a variety of ways by Native Americans. The Penobscots put it on burns, cuts, and sores. Ointments and plasters were also applied to the chest and back for colds and chest problems. It not only makes an effective treatment, but also is a protective coating, especially for cuts and burns.

Many tribes including the Algonquin, Woodlands Cree, Iroquois, Menominee, Micmac, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi treated colds with a tea made from the sap or bark.

The Pillagers and Ojibwa used the aromatic needles in their sweat lodges, inhaling the smoke from burning leaves to cure such respiratory problems as bronchitis.

The Chippewa inhaled steam created by melting the gum to relieve headaches.

The Iroquois used the steam created from a decoction of the branches to relieve rheumatism and as an aid in childbirth.

Infusions of the leaves were used to treat urinary tract infections including cystitis.

It is still commonly used in potpourri.

Agave

Botanical Name

Family Agavaceae
Agave americana

Common Names

Century Plant
Spanish: Maguey, Lechuguilla, Mescal
Nahuatl: Metl, Tlacametl, Teometl

Cautions

Do not use during pregnancy.
Do not exceed prescribed dose as it may cause digestive irritation and lead to eventual liver damage.
External use can cause irritation in those with sensitive skin.

Description

Native to the deserts of Central America, agave is a succulent perennial with large rosettes of thirty to sixty fleshy, sharply-toothed leaves that reach a height of six feet. It produces clusters of yellow flowers, growing to three inches across and bloom on a pole-like stem after ten years or more. It is also grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas around the world.

History

Plentiful in the arid areas of Mexico, agave is considered to be one of the most useful plants on earth. For as long as man has travelled the deserts of Mesoamerica, the plant has provided food, drink, and medicine. It is most famous as the source of tequila, pulque, and mescal. Long fibers from the leaves of some species are the source of sisal hemp woven into hammocks, fishing nets, and baskets. The heads, with the leaves trimmed off, are roasted and eaten. The tall stalks are chopped into pieces and chewed like sugar cane and some species are used to make soap.

According to legend, the plant lives for hundreds of years before it flowers, which is why it acquired the name of “Century Plant”. In reality, the plants live no more than thirty years, but the fatal flowering can be spectacular. In some species, a shoot two stories high, will produce an enormous cluster of white or yellow flowers.

Unlike the Europeans at the time the Spanish conquest of the New World, the Aztecs and Maya were very skilled in wound healing. They used the agave sap, often with egg white, to bind powders and gums in pastes and poultices to be applied to wounds.

The Bandianus Manuscript of 1552 was the first herbal to list the plants of the New World, describing an Aztec treatment for diarrhea and dysentery. In it, agave juice, combined with freshly-ground corn and extract of bladderwort was given as an enema, using a syringe made from the bladder of a small animal and a hollow bone or reed.

The 18th century Spanish botanist, Luis Née, was so impressed with the usefulness of the plant that, in his report to the crown, declared that Spain should not be without it. The plant was soon taken there, where it can still be found growing.

The juice was often applied to cuts and knife wounds to ease the pain, but another unusual use was recorded. It was stated that a cowardly (or clever) man was about to be whipped for some crime and had coated his back with the juice in order to lessen the pain of the whip.

Key Actions

antiseptic
anti-inflammatory
demulcent
diuretic
laxative
restorative

Key Components

estrogen-like isoflavonoids
alkaloids
coumarins
vitamins pro-A, B, C, D, and K

Medicinal Parts

Remedies

poultices to treat skin infections and inflammations
infusions for internal healing
juice applied to cuts, sores, and wounds

Traditional Uses

It is used to treat many digestive ailments, including ulcers and other inflammatory conditions of the intestines, stomach, and mouth. Its soothing properties protect the mucous membranes and encourage healing. It is also used for eye inflammations, bronchitis, arthritis, menstrual problems, as well as for cuts and wounds.

In the past, being a fairly close relative of Aloe Vera and with its rosette of sharply barbed spears, the two are often substituted for each other, depending on availability.

Another species, A. sisalana, is cultivated in subtropical America and Kenya as a source of hecogenin, the substance that is the starting point in the production of corticosteroids. Its fiber is also used to make rope and hammocks.

Mixed with a yellow chili and gourd seeds, the mixture was a tonic for those suffering relapses after illnesses.

A beverage made with the juice, called aguamiel, which literally means “water honey,” is prepared by roasting one of the spears until it begins to turn brown. The liquid is then squeezed from it and simmered over a low flame, sometimes with the addition of a cinnamon stick for flavor.

Acacia

Botanical and Common Names

Family Leguminosae
Acacia arabica (Acacia, Babul, Wattle Bark, Indian Gum)
Acacia catechu (Black Catechu, Cutch)
Acacia senegal (Senegal, Acacia, Cape Gum, Egyptian Thorn, Gum Acacia, Gum Arabic, Gum Senegal, Tamerisk/Tamarisk, Babul)
Acacia decurrens (Black Wattle)
Acacia farnesiana, Mimosa farnesiana (Cassia flower, Cashaw, Sweet Acacia; Spanish: Huizache, Uña del Gato, Guisache, Palo Huisache, Binorama, Acacia, Espino Blanco, Huaxin (Nahuatl), Xkantiriz (Maya)

Cautions

Do not take for more than two to three weeks at a time without a break.
Do not take if suffering from kidney inflammations.

Description

The Acacia tree is indigenous to the Nile area, Ethiopia, East Africa, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, and India. It grows to about seventy feet with hard, woody, rusty-brown coloured bark and feathery leaves. It produces small, bright yellow flower heads and pods up to six inches long. The bark is collected from plants that are at least seven years old and then left to mature for a year. The Australian species, Black Wattle, is commercially available under the same name as Acacia. The two are used interchangeably. The US has several species, but A. angustissim is the only thornless variety.

Black Catechu is indigenous to India, Burma, Sri Lanka, and East Africa, growing to about forty feet in height at altitudes of 5,000 feet. It produces thorny branches, divided feathery leaves and flowers of close spikes. It is grown mainly for its lumber. Black catechu heartwood is harvested, ground, and boiled in water for twelve hours. The residue is then removed, the extract steamed to a syrup consistency, and is cooled in molds. When dried, this shiny, black-brown mass, called “cutch”, becomes a brittle solid which is broken up into irregular pieces and sold.

Senegal is found in the tropical Savannah belt of Africa, in the southern Sahara (Senegal and Gambia), in Arabia, Beluchistan, and Sind. It grows in forest-like conditions in the western and southwestern Sahara region (Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, northern Dahomey and northern Nigeria). The latex is the result of a wound infection of the tree which has occurred naturally or by inducement. The incised bark is removed in strips approximately an inch wide by two feet in length. The liquid dries to form a hard, glazed substance and is collected on a weekly basis from trees ranging from three to twelve years old. Only the latex from A. senega or other African varieties are officially recognized. Therefore, it seems, the latex from the Asian, Australian, and American species is not officially recognized.

The Mexican species is a shrub that grows wild, having thorny stems and clumps of fragrant yellow flowers. It thrives abundantly in the Sonoran desert and in tropical and subtropical climates throughout Mexico. It is cultivated as an ornamental in gardens in the Americas, as well as in southern Europe, where it is also grown commercially for its flowers, whose aroma is used in perfumes.

History

The Acacia genus includes more than 1,200 species of flowering trees and shrubs. Many of them are used medicinally for their soothing properties.

In ancient Egypt, the wood of the acacia was used to make dwellings, wheels, and tool handles. All parts of the tree have long been used medicinally.

The gum was applied to loose teeth by ancient Egyptians as its thick mucilaginous qualities helped to support the tooth while the astringent qualities tightened up the surrounding gum tissue. If the damage was not too severe, the tooth would firm up in a short time. The gum was also applied to open wounds as an antiseptic balm.

Since prehistoric times, the plant has been used as a food and a dye by the Aztecs, who also considered the edible seedpods as an aphrodisiac.

Key Actions

anthelmintic
antibacterial
anticatarrhal
antifungal
anti-inflammatory
antimalarial
antimicrobial
antiseptic
astringent
diuretic
hemostatic
mucilaginous (roots and gum)
sedative (flowers and leaves)

Key Components

tannins (25-60%)
mucilage (20-30%)
flavonoids
resins

Medicinal Parts

Bark, gum, and fruit (Acacia); bark, heartwood, leaves, and shoots (Catechu); latex (Senegal)
Has proven to be active against Staphylococcus aureus, Psudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., malaria, Shigella dysenteriae, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Remedies

Acacia
- lotions for bleeding gums
- gargles for sore throats
- wash for eczema and wounds
- eyewash for conjunctivitis
- douche for excessive vaginal discharge
- enemas for hemorrhoids
- decoctions for diarrhea
- mouthwash for gum disease and oral inflammations
Black Catechu
- infusions, tinctures, powders, or ointments to act as a clotting agent externally or internally
- mouthwashes and gargles for oral inflammations or bleeding
- injectables are also available

Traditional Uses

Both the African and Australian varieties have tannin-rich bark. A decoction can be applied to inflamed tissue and burns to promote rapid healing and the knitting together of the tissues. This high tannin content also helps in the treatment of mouth ulcers and throat inflammations. Its astringency helps check the growth of oral bacteria while soothing the delicate tissues that line the oral cavity.

In Ayurvedic medicine, Acacia leaves, flowers, and pods have long been used to expel worms, to staunch bleeding, heal wounds, and suppress the coughing up of blood. Its strong astringent action is used to contract and toughen mucous membranes throughout the body in much the same way as witch hazel or oak bark.

Black Catechu is used internally for chronic catarrh of the mucous membranes, dysentery, and bleeding. In Chinese medicine it is used for poorly healing ulcers, weeping skin diseases, oral ulcers with bleeding, and traumatic injuries. A small piece of cutch can be dissolved in the mouth to stop bleeding gums or heal canker sores. In Ayurvedic medicine, decoctions of the bark and heartwood are used for sore throats.

Senegal gum is used as a mild stimulant and to impede absorption as well as for the treatment of catarrh and diarrhea. It is the source of the well-known gum arabic, as well as being a constituent of cough drops. It is also used in veterinary medicine for mild diarrhea in small animals, foals, and calves.

Mexicans use the flowers, leaves, and roots to make soothing teas and washes, good for the mucous membranes, and used mainly to treat bladder problems or as a topical antiseptic for skin and oral inflammations. The astringent fruit is used to treat dysentery.

Although herbalists in the US rarely use acacia for parasitic infestations, it is commonly used in other cultures. For example, one species, A. anthelmintica, is specific for worms in Abyssinia; A. nilotica is specific for malaria in Nigeria; and A. polyacantha is specific for malaria in Tanzania.

The acacia in some South American cultures has been considered specific for venomous stings and bites and used in much the same manner in each culture. The juice of the chewed bark is swallowed, while the chewed bark itself is placed on the area of the bite.

Decoctions made from the powdered leaves, stems, and pods are taken for shigella, malaria, dysentery, and diarrhea. The brew is both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.

An infusion of the flowers and leaves is taken for gastrointestinal inflammations. The flowers are also sedating.

The roots make a mucilaginous tea that is both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It helps soothe mucous membranes from the mouth through to the anus, reducing inflammation and attacking microbial infections.

Any part may be powdered and applied to fungal infections, infected wounds, and to stop the bleeding of wounds and prevent subsequent infection.

To prepare gum: combine one part by weight of acacia gum with with parts by volume of distilled water. Place into a tightly-stoppered bottle, shake occasionally, all to dissolve, and keep refrigerated. It becomes a slimy goo in the process. One or two tablespoons of this at a time can be taken as often as needed for gastrointestinal inflammations, oral ulcerations, or dysentery. Mesquite (Prosopis julifera, P. pubescens) is a close relative and can be substituted for acacia, using the same preparation and dosage, with the same results.