Herbal Encyclopedia

Common Medicinal Herbs For Natural Health

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    • When To Gather Herbs
  • Scientific Names

Olive

December 28, 2010 By Cloverleaf Farm

Olives and LeavesBotanical Name

  • Family Oleaceae
  • Olea europaea

Common Names

  • Olivier, Lucca

Cautions

  • None listed.

Description

The olive tree is one of the most documented plants in history and has the distinction of being one of the longest surviving species in the plant kingdom. It is an evergreen, growing to about thirty feet, having a deeply grooved, gray trunk, small leathery leaves, clusters of small greenish white flowers, and a green fruit ripening to black. The trees still grow wild in the Mediterranean region, where they are also cultivated. They are extensively cultivated in similar climates in the Americas, in Iran, and beyond the Caucasus. Gathered throughout the year, the leaves from wild trees are believed to contain a higher concentration of active principles than from cultivated ones.

History

It is thought that the olive tree was first cultivated in Crete about 3500 BCE.

The olive has many symbolic associations, including its branches being linked with peace and its leaves worn as a victorious crown in ancient Olympic games.

Since ancient times, the leaves have been used to clean wounds and the oil used in ritual anointings.

Key Actions

  • lowers blood pressure
  • mild diuretic
  • mild hypoglycemic
  • nutritive

Key Components

(a) Leaves

  • oleoropine
  • oleasterol
  • leine

(b) Oil

  • oleic acid (about 75%)

Medicinal Parts

  • Leaves, extracted oil, flowers

Traditional Uses

Olive oil is nourishing and improves the balance of fats within the blood, lowering blood pressure and helping to improve the function of the circulatory system.

Olives are mildly diuretic and may be used to treat such conditions as cystitis.

The leaves are also used in some forms of diabetes as they possess some ability to lower blood sugar levels.

The oil is traditionally taken by the teaspoonful with lemon juice to treat gallstones. It also has a general protective action on the digestive tract and is good for the skin.

Externally, the oil is often used as a carrier oil for essential oils that require application to the skin for such conditions as burns, scalds, sores, and skin inflammations, including eczemous patches of dry skin.

Used in treatment of bowel diseases, it is an excellent laxative for children, but dosage must be monitored carefully.

The herb will also relieve the pain of intestinal colic, and has been recommended as a vermifuge but needs to be taken over a long period to be successful.

Filed Under: O Tagged With: carrier oil, cystitis, diabetes, gallstones, laxative, lower blood pressure

Agrimony

November 21, 2010 By Cloverleaf Farm

Botanical Name

  • Family Rosaceae
  • Agrimonia eupatoria, A. procera, A. pilosa and other Agrimonia specie

Common Names

  • Stickwort, Cocklebur, Liverwort, Common Agrimony, Philanthropos, Church Steeples, Sticklewort

Cautions

  • No adverse effects have been noted. In fact, it is considered safe enough for children. However, because of its tannins, which are astringent, it should not be taken in large quantities as it can cause constipation or other digestive problems.
  • It may also increase sensitivity to the sun if too much is taken.

Description

A native European herb, the plant is an erect, downy, and slightly aromatic perennial that grows to about three feet in height. It is commonly found in marshes, wet meadows, and open areas. The paired leaves are green above and silvery-green beneath. The yellow flowers are small, five-petaled growing on the terminal spikes, and are collected while in bloom during the summer.

History

The Latin name eupatoria was derived from Mithridates Eupator (d. 63 BCE), King of Pontus in northern Turkey, who was said to have had a profound knowledge of plant lore.

It is the main ingredient in “arquebusade water”, a 15th century battlefield remedy for wounds.

Native Americans mainly used two types, A. eupatoria anA. gryposepal. The Cherokee used it to normalize bowels, treat fever, ease hunger pangs in children, and build up the blood. Other uses included treating snake bites, jaundince, gout, and worms.

Key Actions

  • anti-inflammatory
  • antiparasitic and antibacterial properties (A. pilosa)
  • astringent
  • diuretic
  • encourages clot formation
  • mildly antiviral
  • stimulates bile flow
  • tissue healer

Key Components

  • bitter principle
  • coumarins
  • flavonoids (including luteolin)
  • minerals and vitamins B and K
  • polysaccharides
  • silica (connective tissue healer)
  • tannins
  • volatile oil

Medicinal Parts

  • Leaves, flowers, stems (aerial parts)

Remedies

  • infusion to treat diarrhea, especially in children and infants and can be taken by breast-feeding mothers to dose babies
  • wash from infusions to clean wounds, sores, eczema, and varicose ulcers, and a weak infusion as an eyewash for conjunctivitis
  • for tinctures, being more potent and drying than infusions and used for more serious conditions where phlegm and mucous stubbornly remain; also used for cystitis, urinary infections, bronchitis, and heavy menstrual bleeding
  • poultices of the leaves for migraine headaches
  • gargle made from an infusion for sore throats and nasal mucus
  • decoctions used in China for heavy uterine bleeding, blood in the urine, dysentery, and intestinal parasites
  • compresses soaked in a decoction to treat boils
  • douches using a strained decoction for treatment of Trichomonas vaginalis

Traditional Uses

It can be combined with cornsilk to treat cystitis and urinary incontinence.

Because it staunches bleeding and encourages clot formation, it has long been used to heal wounds.

It is also used in the treatment of kidney stones, mild diarrhea, sore throats, rheumatism, and arthritis.

It can help relieve skin, mouth, and throat inflammations, and has been used to treat colds and asthma. It is an astringent, so makes an effective antidiarrheal agent.

When applied topically, agrimony leaves can help draw out thorns and splinters, stop cuts from bleeding, and help heal eczema, skin wounds, and sores.

Filed Under: A Tagged With: agrimony, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antiparasitic and antibacterial properties (A. pilosa), arthritis, astringent, bitter, blood in the urine, boils, bronchitis, clean wounds, clot formation, conjunctivitis, coumarins, cystitis, diarrhea, diuretic, dysentery, eczema, encourages clot formation, flavonoids, heal wounds, heavy menstrual bleeding, inflammation, intestinal parasites, kidney stones, luteolin, mild diarrhea, mildly antiviral, minerals, mucous, nasal mucus, phlegm, polysaccharides, rheumatism, silica, sore throat, sores, stimulates bile flow, tannins, tissue healer, Trichomonas vaginalis, urinary infection, uterine bleeding, varicose ulcer, vitamins, volatile oil

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Pages

  • Modes of Use
    • Compresses and Lotions
    • Creams
    • Decoctions
    • Electuaries
    • Essential Oils
    • Fomentations
    • Gargles and Mouthwashes
    • Glycerites
    • Liniments
    • Lip Balms
    • Medicinal Milks
    • Mustard Plasters
    • Oil Infusions
    • Ointments and Salves
    • Poison Ivy Lotions
    • Poultices
    • Powders and Capsules
    • Steam Inhalations
    • Syrups
    • Tinctures and Vinegars
    • Toothpastes
    • Vapor Balms
    • Water Infusions
    • When To Gather Herbs
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  • Scientific Names

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This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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