Consulting Medical Herbalist. President: National Institute of Medical
Herbalists. Author: The Herbal Pocket Prescriber. (Eardley)
Herbalists. Author: The Herbal Pocket Prescriber. (Eardley)
Avallon, Avaloni, Avalona, Avalonia, Avalonie, Avalony, Avalonya, Avaron, Avarona, Avilon... avalon
Guenever, Guenevere, Gueniver, Guenna, Guennola, Guinever, Guinna, Gwen, Gwenevere, Gweniver, Gwenn, Gwennie, Gwennola, Gwennora, Gwennore, Gwenny, Gwenora, Gwenore, Gwyn, Gwynn, Gwynna, Gwynne, Guanhamara, Guanhumora, Gvenour, Gwenhwyfar, Gwenhwyvar, Gwenhyvar, Gwenifer, Gwennor, Gwenyver... guinevere
Igrayne, Igrain, Igerne, Igrayn, Igraen, Igraene... igraine
Symptoms: local tenderness and stomach gas. The terms hyperacidity and hyperchlorhydria refer to excessive production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Alternatives. For preparation and dosage see remedy entry.
Teas: Agrimony, Balm, Black Horehound, Caraway, Catnep, Celery seeds, Centuary, Chamomile, Dandelion root coffee, Fennel, Irish Moss, Liquorice root, Meadowsweet, Parsley, Quassia, Red Sage. Tablets/capsules. Dandelion, Papaya, Goldenseal. Dosage as on bottle.
Powders: equal parts, Slippery Elm, White Poplar, Meadowsweet. Mix. 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily and when necessary.
Tinctures. Formula: Dandelion 1; Meadowsweet 1; Nettles 1; Goldenseal quarter. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons in water thrice daily before meals.
Practitioner prescription. Dec Jam Sarsae Co conc (BPC 1949) 1 fl oz (30ml); Liquid Extract Filipendula 1 fl oz (30ml); Liquid Extract Taraxacum off. Half a fl oz (15ml); Ess Menth Pip 0.05ml. Aqua to 8oz (240ml). Sig: one dessertspoon (8ml) in warm water before meals. (Barker).
Diet: lacto-vegetarian. Garlic. Celery. Dried raw oats. Regular raw food days. Low fat. Powdered kelp in place of salt. Paw paw fruit. Regulate bowels.
Note: In view of the finding of gastric carcinoid tumours in rodents subjected to long-term anti-secretory agents, caution needs to be exercised over the long-term use of antacids that powerfully suppress the gastric juices. ... acidity
Condition also caused by a spasm in the coronary circulation. ‘Strangling pain in the chest’, lasting 2 to 10 minutes. Aggravated by diabetes, anaemia, goitre, high blood pressure and stress.
Is it angina? Important evidence is the association of the pain with exercise and its relief by rest. Pain is similar to intermittent claudication (pain in the calf muscle). Sense of constriction in front of chest: may radiate to the jaw or left arm.
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) is caused by cholesterol deposits hindering blood flow. It is the work of the practitioner to unclog blocked arteries where possible.
Phytotherapy may increase exercise capacity, reduce the number of angina attacks, and is known to enjoy a low incidence of unwanted side-effects.
Alternatives. Teas. Chamomile, Hawthorn, Motherwort, Lime Flowers, Hops, Oats (avena), Orange Tree leaves.
Tablets/capsules. Cayenne, Hawthorn, Lobelia, Prickly Ash.
Powders. Formula. Equal parts: Hawthorn berries, Opuntia (Cactus flowers), Mistletoe, Motherwort. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily.
Liquid extracts: Formula: Equal parts: Cactus, Hawthorn, Prickly Ash. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons. Thrice daily.
Tinctures: Formula. Hawthorn BHP (1983) 30ml; Motherwort BHP (1983) 30ml; Prickly Ash bark BHP (1983) 20ml; Tincture Capsicum Fort BPC 1934: 0.25ml. Dose: 5ml in water thrice daily.
Practitioner. Alternatives:–
1. Tincture Aconite, BPC 1949 : 2-5 drops (0.12 to 0.3ml) when necessary.
2. Liquid extract: Lobelia BHP (1983): 10-30 drops every 20 minutes when necessary.
3. Formula. Tincture Selenicereus grand (preferably fresh plant) 1oz; Tincture Ginger quarter of an ounce. Dose: 15-30 drops every 15 minutes.
4. Formula. Liquid extract: Prickly Ash bark 20ml; Liquid extract: Cactus 20ml. Mix. Dose: 5-20 drops when necessary. (A. Barker, FNIMH)
5. Emergency. Tincture Gelsemium BPC 1973. Dose: 5 drops (0.3ml).
Diet: See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION. Vitamin E reduces the risk of angina. ... angina
Supplementation. Vitamin A, B-complex. PABA. ... chloasma
Without addition of a diuretic, (Dandelion or Buchu) dropsy of legs and feet, and breathlessness tend to worsen.
Treatment. Surgical valve replacement now the treatment of choice. Improve the circulation.
Formula. Liquid extracts: Cactus 10ml; Pulsatilla 5ml; Hawthorn 20ml; Tincture Capsicum BPC 1934 0.25ml. Dose: 10-30 drops thrice daily before meals.
A. Barker FNIMH. Liquid extract Garden Thyme 15ml; Liquid extract Pulsatilla 5ml; Liquid extract Passion flower 15ml; Tincture Capsicum 0.25ml. Emuls aqua Menth Pip conc (1 in 64) 2ml . . . Aqua to 250ml. Dose: 1 dessertspoon (8ml) in water every 4 hours.
Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION. ... aortic stenosis
Symptoms: soreness, itching, sometimes burning.
Aetiology: psoriasis, trichomoniasis, candida, drug reactions, sexually transmitted disease. In diabetes, balanitis is a possibility from irritation by urine. Often associated with phimosis: tightness of the foreskin. Analogous with the clitoris.
Alternatives. Teas or Decoctions. Blood root, Echinacea, Garlic, Goldenseal, Gravel root, Kava-Kava, Myrrh, Wild Indigo, Rosemary, Parsley root, Sarsaparilla.
Tablets/capsules. Echinacea. Sarsaparilla. Goldenseal. Chaparral.
Powders. Equal parts: Kava-Kava, Myrrh, Goldenseal. Mix. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) thrice daily.
Liquid extracts. Combine Echinacea 2; Myrrh half; Goldenseal half. Mix. 15-60 drops 3 times daily, in water.
Practitioner. Tincture Blood root, BHP (1983) 5ml . . . Tincture Gravel root BHP (1983) 20ml . . . Tincture Goldenseal BPC (1949) 5ml . . . Decoction Sarsaparilla Co Conc, BPC, to 100ml. Sig: 5ml (3i) tds Aq cal. pc. (A. Barker)
Topical (1) For cleansing after retraction of foreskin: one drop Tincture Myrrh to one ounce (30ml) Distilled extract of Witch Hazel. (2) Aloe Vera gel. (3) Eucalyptus oil, dilute many times. ... balanitis
Alternatives. To stimulate flow, Boldo, Horsetail, Dandelion, Blue Flag root, Milk Thistle, Bogbean, Burdock. Teas, capsules, tablets, Liquid extracts, or Tinctures.
A. Vogel recommends: Barberry, Centuary, St John’s Wort, Sarsaparilla.
Combination tea. Equal parts: Peppermint leaves, Milk Thistle, Dandelion root. 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes, 1 cup thrice daily for limited period (1 month).
Bile in the urine. (Bilviria)
Arthur Barker: Liquid Extract Black root 1oz (30ml). Liquid Extract Cornsilk 1oz (30ml). Essential Peppermint 30 drops (2ml). Water to 8oz (240ml). 2 teaspoons in water 3 times daily before meals.
Diet. Dandelion coffee. Artichokes.
See: CHOLAGOGUES. CHOLERETICS. ... bile secretion deficiency
Alternatives:– Tea. Mixture. Equal parts, Black Horehound and Wood Betony. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water infused 5-15 minutes. Drink freely.
Decoction. Mixture. Parts: Fringe Tree bark 2; Parsley root 1; Dandelion root 1. One teaspoon to each cup water gently simmered 20 minutes. Half a cup 3 times daily before meals.
Tablets/capsules. Devil’s Claw, Milk Thistle, Blue Flag, Wild Yam.
Powders. Formula. Equal parts: Milk Thistle and Peppermint. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily.
Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Wahoo and Barberry. 30-60 drops every 2 hours in water.
Barberry bark. One teaspoon shredded Barberry bark to each cup cold water allowed to infuse overnight. Half-1 cup twice daily.
Arthur Barker. Liquid Extract Black root 30ml; Liquid Extract Meadowsweet 30ml; Liquid Extract Agrimony 15ml; Emulsion Peppermint water (1 in 60) 2ml (optional). Water to 240ml (8oz). Dose: 2 teaspoons in water 3 times daily.
Prevention. Weekly dose Epsom’s salts.
Milk Thistle. Acquires a reputation for the complaint.
Diet. Low fat, Dandelion coffee, artichokes. Reject alcohol and strong caffeine drinks.
See also: ACIDOSIS. LIVER. ... bilousness
ASTHMA. Spasmodic contraction of the bronchi following exercise, emotional tension, infection, allergens, pollens, house dust, colds.
Symptoms. Obstruction of airways with wheezing, rales or whistling sounds with a sense of constriction. Often related to eczema – ‘eczema of the epithelium’. Infantile eczema treated with suppressive ointments may drive the condition ‘inwards’ and worsen asthma. “My son’s eczema has got better, but he now has asthma” is a common observation.
Causes: hypersensitivity to domestic animals, horses and pet birds. Common salt. Red or white wine allergy. An older generation of practitioners recognised a renal-bronchial asthma encouraged by faulty kidney function. With addition of a relaxing diuretic (Dandelion, Buchu or Parsley root) to a prescription, respiratory symptoms often abate.
Broncho-dilators such as Ephedra and Wild Thyme are widely used by the practitioner. To relieve spasm: Lobelia, Pleurisy root. White Horehound, Ammoniacum, Cramp bark, Garlic, Grindelia, Hyssop.
Anti-cough agents serve to remove sticky sputum: Coltsfoot, Garden Thyme, Slippery Elm bark, Maidenhair Fern, Linseed, Bayberry bark.
For the chronic asthmatic, bacterial invasion spells distress, when Echinacea or Balm of Gilead should be added. Where an irregular pulse reveals heart involvement, add: Hawthorn or Lily of the Valley.
Lobelia is of special value for the anxious patient with spasm of the bronchi. Should be tried before resorting to powerful spray mists which frequently produce gastro-intestinal disturbance.
Alternatives. Teas. Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Horehound (White), Mullein, Skullcap, Marshmallow, Thyme, Valerian, Wild Cherry bark, Elecampane, Plantain. Formula: equal parts herbs Coltsfoot, Mullein, Valerian. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 10-15 minutes; dose, 1 cup twice daily and when necessary.
Antispasmodic Drops. See entry.
Practitioner. Ephedra, Lobelia, Gelsemium, Grindelia, Euphorbia (pill-bearing spurge), Skunk Cabbage, Senega, Pulsatilla, Lily of the Valley (cardiac asthma), Thyme. Formula. Equal parts, Tincture Lobelia simp; Tincture Belladonna; Tincture Ephedra. 5-10 drops thrice daily (maintenance), 10-20 drops for spasm.
Cockayne, Ernest, FNIMH. Hyssop tea for children throughout childhood to avoid respiratory disorders. Dr Finlay Ellingwood. Gelsemium 3.5ml; Lobelia 3.5ml. Distilled water to 120ml. One 5ml teaspoon in water every 3 hours.
Dr Alfred Vogel. Ephedra 20 per cent; Ipecac 15 per cent; Hawthorn berry 10 per cent; Blessed Thistle 5 per cent; Burnet Saxifrage 5 per cent; Garden Thyme 5 per cent; Grindelia 1 per cent. 10-15 drops in water thrice daily.
Dr Wm Thomson. 1 teaspoon Ephedra herb to cup boiling water; infuse 10-15 minutes. Half-1 cup 2-3 times daily.
Traditional. 2 teaspoons shredded Elecampane root in cup cold water; stand overnight. Next day, heat to boiling point when required. Strain. Sips, hot, with honey: 1 cup 2-3 times daily.
Potter’s Asthma & Bronchitis Compound 32. 40g medicinal teabags. Ingredients: Clove BPC 4.84 per cent; Elecampane root 17.24 per cent; Horehound 26.20 per cent; Hyssop 17.24 per cent; Irish Moss 17.24 per cent; Liquorice 17.24 per cent. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons when necessary.
Chinese Medicine. Decoction or extract from the Gingko tree widely used, as also is Ephedra, Garlic, Liquorice and Bailcalensis.
Tablets/capsules. Lobelia. Iceland Moss, (Gerard). Euphorbia (Blackmore).
Powders. Formula. Lobelia 2; Hyssop 1; Elderflowers 1; Grindelia quarter; Liquorice quarter: pinch Cayenne. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) 2-3 times daily.
Aromatherapy. 6 drops Rosemary oil in 2 teaspoons Almond oil for massage upper chest to relieve congestion.
Inhalation. See: INHALATIONS, FRIAR’S BALSAM.
Nebulizer. A germicidal solution is made from 5 drops oil Eucalyptus in one cup boiling water. Use in nebulizer for droplet therapy.
Ioniser – use of.
Cider Vinegar. Sips of the vinegar in water for whoop.
Supportives. Yoga. Singing. Cures have been reported of patients on taking up singing. “During singing, up to 90 per cent of the vital capacity may be used without a conscious effort to increase tidal volume.” (Dr M. Judson, New England Journal of Medicine)
Diet. Low salt, low fat, high fibre, cod liver oil, carrots, watercress, Soya beans or flour, lecithin, sunflower seed oil, green vegetables, raw fruit, fresh fish. These foods are valuable sources of antioxidant vitamins and minerals essential for the body’s defence mechanism. A diet deficient in these reduces ability of the airways to withstand the ravages of cigarette smoke and other air pollutants.
Foods that are craved are ones often causing sensitivity. Among problem foods are: milk, corn, wheat, eggs, nuts, chocolate, all dairy products, fat of meats. Check labels for tartrazine artificial colouring.
Salt intake. Linked with chest diseases. “Those who eat a lot of salt had more sensitive airways than those with low salt intake . . . excess salt tended to cause most pronounced symptoms.” (Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Oavia, Italy)
Asthma mortality could be significantly reduced by sufferers lowering their salt consumption, an epidemiologist predicted.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin B6 50-100mg. Vitamin C 500mg. Vitamin E 400iu. Magnesium, Zinc. Cod liver oil: 2 teaspoons.
Anti-allergic bedding. Provides a protective barrier against the house dust mite on mattresses and bedding. Droppings from the tiny pests are worse in the bedroom. ... asthenia
Symptoms. Local tenderness, feverishness, general agitation. Pain following mumps. Nipple discharge. Alternatives. Where there is feverishness add Elderflowers (one part).
Tea. Combine equal parts: Comfrey leaves. Wild Thyme. German Chamomile. Red Clover. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. Drink freely.
Tablets/capsules. Poke root. Red Clover. Echinacea.
Powders. Formula: Echinacea 2; Red Clover 1; Poke root 1. Mix. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily.
Tinctures. Formula. Echinacea 2; Marigold 1; Agnus Castus 2; Poke root 1. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons thrice daily, in water.
Poultice: (1) Fresh Plantain leaves beaten in pestle and mortar, applied cold. (2) Comfrey powder or Slippery Elm powder (or both) sprinkled on suitable material wrung out in boiling water and applied. (3) German Chamomile and Comfrey leaves. (Arthur Hyde, MNIMH) (4) Bring to boil, equal parts Chamomile flowers and Marshmallow leaves in milk and water. Remove when boiling point is reached. Saturate linen or suitable material. Apply every 12 hours. (Rev. John Wesley) (6) Bathe with juice of Houseleek. (Traditional, Norfolk villages)
Evening Primrose oil: internally and externally.
Poke root. An important ingredient of prescription for acute condition. ... breasts, mastitis
Sheila E. Drew BPharm PhD MRPharms. Deputy Head of Technical Services, William Ransom & Son plc.
Fred Fletcher-Hyde BSc FNIMH. President Emeritus, British Herbal Medicine Association. President Emeritus, National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Simon Y. Mills MA FNIMH. Director, Centre for Complementary Health Studies, University of Exeter. Hugh W. Mitchell MNIMH (Hon). President, British Herbal Medicine Association. Managing Director, Mitchfield Botanics Ltd.
Edward J. Shellard BPharm PhD DSc(Hon) (Warsaw Medical Academy) FRPharmS CChem FRSC FLS. Emeritus Professor of Pharmacognosy, University of London.
Arnold Webster CChem MRSC. Technical Director, English Grains Ltd.
Peter Wetton BSc LRSC. G.R. Lane Health Products Ltd.
Hein Zeylstra FNIMH. Principal. School of Phytotherapy, Sussex. ... british herbal medicine association, scientific committee, 1995
Symptoms. Intermittent claudication. Affected parts of the leg are much paler than others, the condition regressing to ulceration and possible gangrene. Inflammation of nerves, veins and arteries may lead to clot formation (thrombosis).
Treatment. Stop smoking. Vasodilator herbs.
Alternatives. Cayenne (minute doses), Bayberry, Lime flowers, Lobelia, Prickly Ash, Wahoo bark, Mistletoe, Skullcap, Cactus.
BHP (1983) recommends: Angelica root, Hawthorn berry, Wild Yam.
Decoction. Formula. Equal parts: Hawthorn, Mistletoe, Valerian. 2 teaspoons to two cups water gently simmered 10 minutes. Dose half-1 cup thrice daily, and when necessary.
Tablets/capsules. Alternatives. Prickly Ash 100mg. Hawthorn 200mg. Wild Yam 200mg. Dosage as on bottles.
Powders. Formula. Equal parts: Hawthorn, Wild Yam, Prickly Ash. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) thrice daily.
Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Bayberry, Hawthorn, Prickly Ash. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons thrice daily. Practitioner. Tincture Gelsemium BPC (1973). 0.3ml (5 drops) when necessary for relief of pain.
Diet. Low fat, low salt, high fibre.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin E 1000-1500iu. Vitamin B-complex. Magnesium, Calcium.
Exercise. Physiotherapy exercise. From the sitting position raise legs to horizontal; rest for a few minutes. Lie down and raise legs to 45 degrees; rest for a few minutes. Reverse movements resting each time to equalise the circulation. (Brenda Cooke FNIMH) ... buerger’s disease
Symptoms. Cough, hoarseness, difficult swallowing. ‘Always clearing the throat.’ Differs from a polyp or papilloma on the vocal chords which are benign.
Of possible value:– Teas. Balm, Chamomile, Gotu Kola, Red Clover, Red Sage, Yarrow. Plantain (Arthur Hyde MNIMH)
Tea (mild analgesic). Mix equal parts: Balm and German Chamomile. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5 minutes. 1 cup freely.
Tablets/capsules. Blue Flag root, Echinacea, Poke root.
Formula. Echinacea 2; Mullein 2; Goldenseal quarter. Mix. Dose: Powders: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1-2 teaspoons. Tinctures: 1-3 teaspoons. Thrice daily and at bedtime. Diet. Slippery Elm gruel.
Supplements. Vitamins A and C.
Treatment by a general medical practitioner or a hospital oncologist. ... cancer – larynx
Symptoms (non-specific). Loss of appetite, anaemia, weight loss; pain in abdomen, especially stomach area. Vomit appears as coffee grounds. Occult blood (tarry stools).
Causes. Alcohol, smoking cigarettes, low intake of fruits and vegetables. Foods rich in salt and nitrites including bacon, pickles, ham and dried fish. (Cancer Researchers in Digestive Diseases and Sciences) Long term therapy with drugs that inhibit gastric acid secretion increase risk of stomach cancer.
Of possible value. Alternatives:– Tea. Mixture. Equal parts: Red Clover, Gotu Kola, Yarrow. Strong infusion (2 or more teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. As many cups daily as tolerated.
Formula. Condurango 2; Bayberry 1; Liquorice 1; Goldenseal quarter. Mix. Dose: Powders: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 1-2 teaspoons. Thrice daily in water or honey.
Traditional. Rosebay Willowherb. Star of Bethlehem.
Chinese green tea. Anti-cancer effects have been found in the use of Chinese green tea extracts. Clinical trials on the therapeutic effects against early stomach cancer were promising. (Chinese Journal Preventative Medicines 1990. 24 (2) 80-2)
Chinese Herbalism. Combination. Oldenlandia diffusa 2 liang; Roots of Lu (Phragmites communis) 1 liang; Blackened Ginger 1 ch’ien; Pan-chih-lien (Scutellaria barbarta 5 ch’ein; Chih-tzu (gardenia jasminoides) 3 ch’ien. One concoction/dose daily. Follow with roots of Bulrush tea.
William H. Cook, MD. “Mullein greatly relieves pain, and may be used with Wild Yam and a little Water- Pepper (Polygonum Hydropiper).” The addition of Water-Pepper (or Cayenne) ensures diffusive stimulation and increased arterial force. Burns Lingard, MNIMH. Inoperable cancer of the stomach. Prescribed: Liquid Extract Violet leaves and Red Clover, each 4 drachms; Liquid Extract Cactus grand., 2 drops. Dose every 4 hours. Woman lived 30 years after treatment attaining age of 70.
Arthur Barker, FNIMH. Mullein sometimes helpful for pain.
Wm Boericke MD. American Cranesbill.
George Burford MD. Goldenseal.
Maria Treben. “After returning from a prison camp in 1947 I had stomach cancer. Three doctors told me it was incurable. From sheer necessity I turned to Nature’s herbs and gathered Nettle, Yarrow, Dandelion and Plantain; the juice of which I took hourly. Already after several hours I felt better. In particular I was able to keep down a little food. This was my salvation.” (Health Through God’s Pharmacy – 1981) Essiac: Old Ontario Cancer Remedy. Sheila Snow explored the controversy surrounding the famous cancer formula ‘Essiac’. This was developed by Rene Caisse, a Canadian nurse born in Bracebridge, Ontario, in 1888. Rene noticed that an elderly patient had cured herself of breast cancer with an Indian herbal tea. She asked for the recipe and later modified it. Rene’s aunt, after using the remedy for 2 years, fully recovered from an inoperable stomach cancer with liver involvement, and other terminal patients began to improve.
Rene’s request to be given the opportunity to treat cancer patients in a larger way was turned down by Ottawa’s Department of Health and Welfare. She eventually handed over the recipe to the Resperin Corporation in 1977, for the sum of one dollar, from whom cancer patients may obtain the mixture if their doctors submit a written request. However, records have not been kept up.
In 1988 Dr Gary Glum, a chiropractor in Los Angeles, published a book called ‘Calling of an Angel’: the true story of Rene Caisse. He gives the formula, which consists of 11b of powdered Rumex acetosella
(Sorrel), 1 and a half pounds cut Arctium lappa (Burdock), 4oz powdered Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm bark), and 1oz Rheum palmatum (Turkey Rhubarb). The dosage Rene recommended was one ounce of Essiac with two ounces of hot water every other day at bedtime; on an empty stomach, 2-3 hours after supper. The treatment should be continued for 32 days, then taken every 3 days. (Canadian Journal of Herbalism, July 1991 Vol XII, No. III)
Diet. See: DIET – CANCER. Slippery Elm gruel.
Note: Anyone over 40 who has recurrent indigestion for more than three weeks should visit his family doctor. Persistent pain and indigestion after eating can be a sign of gastric cancer and no-one over 40 should ignore the symptoms. A patient should be referred to hospital for examination by endoscope which allows the physician to see into the stomach.
Study. Evidence to support the belief that the high incidence of gastric cancer in Japan is due to excessive intake of salt.
Note: A substance found in fish oil has been shown experimentally to prevent cancer of the stomach. Mackerel, herring and sardines are among the fish with the ingredient.
Treatment by or in liaison with hospital oncologist or general medical practitioner. ... cancer – stomach and intestines
Relieve pressure on the tender area by use of thick felt rings.
Alternatives. Internal (to reduce inflammation). Prickly Ash, Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum). Celery seed tea for elimination of uric acid.
Topical. Lobelia, Comfrey or St John’s Wort fomentation. Zinc and Castor oil ointment or cream. Comfrey cream. Bind a slice of lemon over bunion or corn at night. Wipe surface with a cut raw onion or garlic 2-3 times daily. Wipe with expressed orange-coloured juice of the fractured stem of Greater Celandine.
Paint with Liquid Extract Lobelia. (Ernest Cockayne FNIMH)
For corns, soak feet in hot soapy water; scrape away the corn and when dry cover with a plaster. Successful results reported with Houseleek steeped in Cider vinegar. Hundreds of corn-cures exist.
Old Yorkshire tradition: 2 teaspoons Epsom salts to a bowl of hot water for a foot-soak; finish off with a Castor oil wipe.
Greek traditional: Rub corn or bunion with lemon juice and leave on lemon rind overnight. Onion juice. Preventative: Anoint feet with Plantain oil believed to be effective. Cider vinegar as a lotion. Aromatherapy. Massage feet after soaking: Lavender, Geranium. ... corns, bunions
Founder groups: The National Institute of Medical Herbalists, College of Osteopaths, British Naturopathic and Osteopathic Association, The British Chiropractic Association, The Society of Homoeopaths, The British Acupuncture Association, The Traditional Acupuncture Society and the Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Objects: to provide vital unified representation to contest adverse legislation; to promote the interests of those seeking alternative treatments; to maintain standards of competent primary health care; to protect the practice of alternative medicine if Common Law is encroached upon. The Council prefers to work in harmony with the orthodox profession in which sense it is complementary. Council’s first chairman: Simon Mills, FNIMH. Address: 10 Belgrave Square, London SW1X BPH. ... council for complementary and alternative medicine
Symptoms. Tremors, restlessness, nausea and sleep disturbance. The greater potency of the drug, the higher the rebound anxiety. Many drugs create stress, weaken resistance to disease, tax the heart and raise blood sugar levels.
Drugs like Cortisone cause bone loss by imperfect absorption of calcium. Taken in the form of milk and dairy products, calcium is not always absorbed. Herbs to make good calcium loss are: Horsetail, Chickweed, Slippery Elm, Spinach, Alfalfa.
Agents to calm nerves and promote withdrawal may augment a doctor’s prescription for reduction of drug dosage, until the latter may be discontinued. Skullcap and Valerian offer a good base for a prescription adjusted to meet individual requirements.
Alternatives. Teas: German Chamomile, Gotu Kola, Hops, Lime flowers, Hyssop, Alfalfa, Passion flower, Valerian, Mistletoe, Oats, Lavender, Vervain, Motherwort. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes; half-1 cup thrice daily.
Decoctions: Valerian, Devil’s Claw, Siberian Ginseng, Lady’s Slipper. Jamaica Dogwood, Black Cohosh.
Tablets/capsules. Motherwort, Dogwood, Valerian, Skullcap, Passion flower, Mistletoe, Liquorice. Powders. Formulae. Alternatives. (1) Combine equal parts Valerian, Skullcap, Mistletoe. Or, (2) Combine Valerian 1; Skullcap 2; Asafoetida quarter. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) thrice daily. Formula No 2 is very effective but offensive to taste and smell.
Practitioner. Tincture Nucis vom. once or twice daily, as advised.
Aloe Vera gel (or juice). Russians tested this plant on rabbits given heavy drug doses and expected to die. Their survival revealed the protective property of this plant: dose, 1 tablespoon morning and evening. Aromatherapy. Sniff Ylang Ylang oil. Lavender oil massage for its relaxing and stress-reducing properties.
Diet. Avoid high blood sugar levels by rejecting alcohol, white flour products, chocolate, sugar, sweets and high cholesterol foods.
Supplements. Daily. Multivitamins, Vitamin B-complex, B6, Vitamin C 2g, Minerals: Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Zinc. Change of lifestyle. Stop smoking. Yoga.
Notes. “Do not withdraw: insulin, anticoagulants, epileptic drugs, steroids, thyroxin and hormone replacement therapy (the endocrine glands may no longer be active). Long-term tranquillisers e.g., Largactil or any medicament which has been used for a long period. Patients on these drugs are on a finely-tuned medication the balance of which may be easily disturbed.” (Simon Mills, FNIMH)
Counselling and relaxation therapy.
The Committee on Safety of Medicines specifically warns against the abrupt cessation of the Benzodiazepines and similar tranquillisers because of the considerable risk of convulsions. ... drug dependence
“It is believed that oxidation of the lipids by free radicals (which are also present in high numbers in patients who have Dupuytren’s contracture) produces toxins which kill fibroblast cells in the palmar fascia. The surrounding tissue overreacts by producing many more fibroblasts, a bit like callous formation after a wound. The rapid increase in fibrous tissue leads to the contracture. This explains why the contracture is so common among patients with diabetes, epilepsy and alcoholism – serum lipid levels are raised in all these groups . . . However, the disorder occurs only if the patient has a genetic predisposition to the disease.” (Mr Paul Sanderson, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Nov. 1992)
Treatment. Directed towards prevention. Same as for HYPERLIPIDAEMIA.
DWARF BEAN. See: FRENCH BEAN.
DWARF ELDER. Danewort. Ground Elder. Sambucus ebulus L. French: Petit sureau. German:
Attichwurzel. Spanish: Sauro enano. Italian: Ebbio. Part used: leaves. Action: expectorant, diaphoretic, diuretic, purgative.
Uses: Dropsy, kidney and bladder torpor, rheumatism.
Combine, equal parts Dwarf Elder, Greater Plantain and Parsley Piert for gravel.
Combine, equal parts Dwarf Elder, Wild Carrot, Broom and Motherwort for oedema of heart origin. Combine, equal parts Dwarf Elder and Celery seeds for polymyalgia and rheumatism. (W.T. Hewitt, FNIMH)
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Tea. 2 teaspoons leaves to each cup boiling water; infuse 10 minutes. Half-1 cup.
Tincture. 1 part in 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol. Macerate 8 days. Decant. 5-10ml (1-2 teaspoons). ... dupuytren’s contracture
Treatment by or in liaison with general medical practitioner.
Attention to water supply. Water should be boiled for five minutes to destroy cysts. Avoid fruits and salad materials from unhygienic sources and exposure to flies.
Alternatives. Agrimony, Balm, Bayberry, Bistort, Blue Flag, Burdock, Calamus, Catechu (black), Cranesbill, Echinacea, Fenugreek, Garlic, Goldenseal, Holy Thistle, Ipecacuanha, Ladies Mantle, Marshmallow, Mullein, Nettles, Pulsatilla, Raspberry leaves, Red Clover, Shepherd’s Purse, Slippery Elm, Spurge (hirta), Tormentil root, Thyme (garden), Wild Yam, Witch Hazel, Yarrow.
Tea. Equal parts: Holy Thistle, Marshmallow, Thyme. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes; 1 cup thrice daily or every 2 hours acute cases.
Decoction. Combine, Wild Yam 1; Marshmallow root 1; Echinacea 2. One heaped teaspoon to two cups water. Simmer gently 20 minutes. Half-1 cup thrice daily: every 2 hours acute cases.
Formula. Equal parts: Bayberry, Burdock, Echinacea, Peppermint. Dose: Liquid extract: one 5ml teaspoon. Tinctures: one to two 5ml teaspoons. Powders: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half teaspoon) in water, honey or fruit juice, thrice daily: every 2 hours for acute cases.
Practitioner. (1) Tincture Ipecacuanha (BP 1973). Dose: 0.25-1ml as prescribed.
(2) Formula. Liquid Extract Echinacea 15ml; Liquid Extract Monsonia ovata 4ml; Liquid Extract Marigold 4ml; Tincture Goldenseal 2ml; Oil Cinnamon 1ml. Distilled water to 240ml (8oz). Dose: 1 dessertspoon (8ml) every 3 hours. (A. Barker)
Preventative: two Garlic capsules at night.
Note: Fenugreek tea: frequent cupfuls. Good results reported. Drink plenty of fluids: milk, oatmeal porridge, vegetable juices. ... dysentery, amoebic
Through a lack of oxygen other muscles weaken. Rate of breathing may increase from 14-30 times per minute. Always ‘clearing the throat’. Overweight worsens.
Alternatives. Lobelia, Wild Thyme, Coltsfoot. Ephedra (practitioner only).
To loosen and thin tough mucus: Iceland Moss, Garlic, Coltsfoot, Gum ammoniac, Fenugreek seeds, Liquorice, Khella.
Decoction. Equal parts: Valerian, Liquorice root. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; simmer 15 minutes. Dose: 1 cup once or twice daily and at bedtime.
Tablets/capsules. Lobelia, Iceland Moss, Garlic.
Formula. Equal parts: Elecampane, Iceland Moss, Wild Thyme. Dose: Powders: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1-2 teaspoons. Tinctures: 1-3 teaspoons. In water, honey or banana mash, thrice daily, and during the night if necessary.
Practitioner. Alternatives.
Formula (1). Liquid extracts: Ephedra 2; Elecampane 1; Lobelia 1. Dose – 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1-2 teaspoons. Tinctures: 1-3 teaspoons in water etc as above.
Formula (2). Liquid extracts: Ephedra 2; Liquorice 1. Dosage same as Formula 1. The action of both formulae is improved when taken in cup of Fenugreek decoction.
Hyssop Wine. Good responses observed. 1oz herb macerated in 1 pint white wine or Vodka for 3-4 weeks; shake daily.
A. Barker FNIMH. Liquid extract Mouse Ear 60 drops; Liquid extract Pleurisy root 30 drops; Tincture Goldenseal 30 drops; Tincture Myrrh 20 drops; Tincture Ginger 20 drops. Pure bottled or distilled water to 8oz (240ml). Dose: 2 teaspoons every 3 hours.
Diet. Low salt. High fibre. Avoid all dairy products.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A 7500iu. Vitamin E 400iu. Folic acid 1mg. Vitamin C 200mg. Iodine, iron. Deep-breathing exercises. 2 Garlic tablets/capsules at night. For acute respiratory infections that irritate emphysema add Echinacea. ... emphysema
Symptoms. Sharp stabbing pains are worse by intercourse. Pain radiates down the back; worse two weeks before menstruation. Incidence has increased since introduction of the vaginal tampon. Enlarged ‘boggy’ uterus. Menstrual irregularity and pain. Diagnosis confirmed by laparoscopy.
Treatment. Official treatment is by Danol hormone therapy which induces a state of artificial pregnancy. Shrinkage and remission of symptoms follow as long as medication is continued. Where the condition has not regressed too far, a number of phyto-pharmaceuticals may bring a measure of relief. These are believed to reduce levels of gonadotrophins and ovarian steroids and abolish cyclical hormonal changes. They are best administered by a qualified herbal practitioner: (MNIMH). Prescriptions vary according to the requirements of each individual case and are modified to meet changed symptoms and progress.
Formula.
Tr Zingiber fort BP (1973) 5 Tr Xanthoxylum 1:5 BHP (1983) 20 L.E. Glycyrrhiza BP (1973) 10 Tr Phytolacca 1:10 BPC (1923) 5 Tr Chamaelirium 1:5 BHP (1983) 50
Aq ad 250ml
Sig 5-10ml (3i) tds aq cal pc.
For pain episodes: pelvic antispasmodics – say Anemone: 10-20 drops (tincture) prn. Extra Ginger, pelvic stimulant, may be taken once or twice daily between meals. Chamomile tea: 1-2 cups daily to maintain endocrine balance.
Formula. Mrs Janet Hicks, FNIMH. Blue Flag root 30ml; Burdock root 20ml; Hawthorn berries 20ml; Pulsatilla herb 40ml; Vervain 50ml; Dandelion root 30ml; Ginger 10ml. Dose: 5ml in water, thrice daily. (Medical Herbalist, Alresford, Nr Winchester, UK)
Formula. Mrs Brenda Cooke, FNIMH. Helonias, Wild Yam, Vervain, Black Haw, Parsley Piert, Marigold, Butternut, aa 15. Goldenseal 10, Ginger 2.5. 5mls tds., pc. (Medical Herbalist, Mansfield, Notts, UK)
Topical. Castor oil packs to low abdomen, twice weekly.
Note: Vigorous exercise appears to reduce the risk of women developing the condition.
Danazol drug rash. Echinacea. Chickweed cream. ... endometriosis
Causes: curettage, abortion, sepsis, bacterial or viral infection (tuberculosis, etc), STD diseases (gonorrhoea, etc). Commonly follows miscarriage or abortion.
Symptoms: low backache, unpleasant purulent vaginal discharge, fever, painful periods.
Treatment. Bedrest. Herbal antibiotics, anti-infectives. To reduce pus formation and strengthen body resistance – Echinacea. To check bleeding between periods – Raspberry, Beth root. To repair mucous membrane – Goldenseal. Constitutional remedy: Thuja, see entry. With hormonal disturbance – Agnus Castus.
Tea. Formula: equal parts, Raspberry leaves, Yarrow, Agnus Castus.
Beth root. See entry.
Helonias. Long history of use by north American Indians. See entry.
A. Barker, FNIMH. Prescription. Tincture Goldenseal 30 drops, Liquid Extract Clivers 60 drops, Liquid Extract Cornsilk 1 fl oz, Liquid Extract Damiana 60 drops. Liquid Extract Marshmallow 1 fl oz. Water to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons every 4 hours.
Topical. Douches: Thuja, Echinacea, Goldenseal, or Myrrh. Raspberry leaf tea. ... endometritis
Treatment. No drinks at night. Empty bladder at bedtime. Wake child 2 hours later to again empty bladder. During the day all caffeine drinks should be avoided: coffee, tea, Cola, etc.
Alternatives. Day-time drinks. Teas from any one:– American Cranesbill, Agrimony, Heartsease, Corn Silk, Liquorice root, Marshmallow root, Mullein, Raspberry leaves, Vervain, Shepherd’s Purse, Ladies Mantle, Uva Ursi. Formula. Bearberry 1; Cornsilk half; Skullcap 1. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup hour before bedtime.
Tablets/capsules. Cranesbill (American). Passion flower. Valerian.
Formula. Equal parts: Ephedra, Valerian, Cranesbill (American). Dose. Powders quarter of a teaspoon. Liquid Extract 1 teaspoon. Tinctures 1-2 teaspoons. In water or honey, early evening and at bedtime. Eclectic School, America. (1) Horsetail 1; Cramp bark half. (2) Mullein 2; Cramp bark half. (3) Oil Thyme, 3 drops night and morning. (4) Oil Mullein (traditional, but still effective) 5 drops.
Thuja. “I have never failed to cure eneuresis in children and young people 3-15 years by giving 2-15 drops Liquid Extract Thuja in a tablespoon of water before each meal and at bedtime. (J.M. Stephenson MD)
Practitioner. Dec Jam Sarsae Co Conc BPC (1949), 1 fl oz. Liquid Extract Rhus Aromatica (Sweet Sumach) half a fluid ounce. Liquid Extract Passiflora 60 drops. Syrup Althaea 2 fl oz. Aqua to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons in water thrice daily; last dose at bedtime. (Arthur Barker)
Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Agrimony, Corn Silk, Horsetail. Dose: 15-60 drops in water thrice daily.
Tincture Arnica: 1-2 drops in water at bedtime; not under 5 years.
Tincture Sweet Sumach. 10-15 drops in water thrice daily.
Diet: piece of cheese or peanut butter at bedtime helps level off the blood sugar level during sleep – important for normal brain function. Citrus fruits and chocolate aggravate. Cow’s milk suspect. ... enuresis
1. Liquid Extract Witch Hazel 60 drops; Liquid Extract Goldenseal 20 drops; 4oz pure spring water, or distilled water. Mix. For conjunctivitis. Instil 3-5 drops, 3-4 times daily.
2. Tincture Goldenseal 5 drops; Liquid Extract Eyebright 30 drops; Rosewater (or pure spring water) 3oz. Mix. (A. Barker FNIMH) Apply, as above. For eye infections.
3. Teas made from any of the following: Raspberry leaves, Eyebright, Clary Sage, Chamomile, Mullein, Plantain, Elderflowers. Prepare: 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water, infuse 15 minutes. Strain. Half fill eyebath for tepid douche, freely. For tired strained eyes.
4. Soothing eye-drops for inflammation: 1-2 drops Castor oil. Administering eye drops can be an awkward procedure. To overcome problems of direction and dose an eye-drop dispenser has been developed by Dispomed Ltd, 114 Northgate Street, Chester, UK. The device, Opticare, is on prescription in the UK. ... eye drops
Fibroids depend on oestrogen for their growth. High levels, as in The Pill, are believed to increase their size. Low levels cause shrinkage. Size: anything from a marble to a turnip, producing a sense of fullness. After the menopause when oestrogen declines they may shrink and finally disappear. When enlarged, they cause frequency of urine and constipation, sometimes resultant anaemia. A common cause of infertility. Not all are removed by surgery. Women with fibroids should not take steroids.
Alternatives. Anti-mitotics – Damiana, Motherwort, Helonias, Goldenseal, Life root, Prickly Ash, White Pond Lily, Thuja, Violet leaves (wild), Blue or Black Cohosh.
To arrest bleeding: add Shepherd’s Purse or Beth root.
For pain: Cramp bark. Goldenseal has a mixed success record and can constipate.
Tea. Formula. Equal parts: Corn Silk, Shepherd’s Purse, Violet. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; dose, one cup thrice daily.
Decoction. Formula. Equal parts: Violet leaves, Clivers, Yellow Dock. 1 teaspoon to each cup of water simmered 20 minutes. Half-1 cup thrice daily.
Tinctures. Alternatives:
(1) Combine Cornsilk 3; White Pond Lily 2; Goldenseal quarter. Dose: 15-30 drops in water thrice daily. (Edgar G. Jones, MNIMH)
(2) Yellow Parilla, 60 drops; Yarrow 1oz; White Pond Lily 60 drops; Tincture Goldenseal 60 drops. Water (preferably distilled) to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons in water after meals. (Arthur Barker, FNIMH) Powders. Formula. Blue Cohosh 1; Poke root 1; Goldenseal half. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily.
A.W. & L.R. Priest. Combination: Goldenseal, Balmony, Galangal. (Oral and local suppository) Douche. 1 litre boiled water. Allow to cool. Add 30-40 drops Liquid Extract Goldenseal, Bayberry or Thuja. Castor oil packs over affected area. Three thicknesses cotton wool or suitable material soaked in Castor oil. Cover with an electric heating pad. Apply 3-4 nights a week for 6 months. Disappearance of fibroid reported. ARE Journal, Vol 19, May 84, p.127
Note: Correction of anaemia, if present. Simple iron deficiency – Nettle tea. Floradix. Special care during pregnancy. ... fibroids
Causes may also be psychological: worry, excitement, emotional crises such as school exams. Where the trouble is persistent attention should be focussed on the bladder (cystitis), inflammation of the kidneys, even the presence of stone.
Simple frequency may arise from cold weather, nervous excitement, or early pregnancy. Other predisposing factors are: diabetes mellitis, enlarged prostate gland, stone in the kidney or bladder. Alternatives. Teas. American Cranesbill, Agrimony, Cornsilk, Horsetail, Passion flower, Plantain, Skullcap, Uva Ursi, Huang Qi (Chinese). Saw Palmetto (prostate gland).
Tablets/capsules. Cranesbill (American), Gentian, Liquorice.
Powders. Equal parts: Cranesbill, Horsetail, Liquorice. Mix. Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Thrice daily.
Tinctures. Equal parts: Cramp bark and Horsetail. Dose: 30-60 drops, thrice daily.
Practitioner. Tinctures. Alternatives:–
Formula 1. Ephedra 30ml; Geranium 20ml; Rhus aromatica 20ml; Thuja 1ml. Aqua to 100ml. Sig: 5ml (3i) tds aq cal pc.
Formula 2. Equal parts: Ephedra and Horsetail. 15-60 drops thrice daily; last dose bedtime.
A. Barker FNIMH. Dec Jam Sarsae Co Conc BPC 1 fl oz (30ml) . . . Liquid extract Rhus 240 minims (16ml) . . . Liquid extract Passiflora 60 minims (4ml) . . . Syr Althaea 2 fl oz (60ml) . . . Aqua to 8oz (240ml). Dose: 2 teaspoons thrice daily; last dose bedtime.
Tincture Arnica. German traditional. 1 drop in honey at bedtime.
Pelvic exercises. Alternate hot and cold Sitz baths. Swimming, Cycling.
Address. Incontinence Advisory Service, Disabled Living Foundation, 380-384 Harrow Road, London W9 2HU. ... frequency of urine
Evidence exists that bereavement is related to a suppression of white cell function. As long as one year may elapse before a normal blood pattern is regained. (Dr Stephen Schleifer, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York City)
To help restore lymphocyte count and relieve depression/anxiety: Combine equal parts Red Clover (blood): Valerian (nerves) and Motherwort (heart).
Tea: 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; half-1 cup 2-3 times daily.
Alternative. Tea: equal parts Motherwort, Balm and Chamomile. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 5-15 minutes. 1 cup as desired.
Liquid Extracts: 20-60 drops in water, 2-3 times daily.
Pulsatilla. (Nalda Gosling, FNIMH, Herbal Practitioner: Apr 79, p.11)
Note: Grief is known to make changes in hormone production and invariably centres on the reproductive system manifesting as a uterine or prostate disturbance. ... grief
Treatment. Purpose of medication is to stimulate flow of bile and support the liver.
Arthur Hyde, MNIMH recommends a selection from the following according to individual case: Balmony, Barberry, Dandelion, Goldenseal, Hops, Ladyslipper, Mistletoe, Passion flower, Stone root. Tinctures. Formula. Marigold 2; Barberry 2; Ginkgo 1. Dose: 2 drops in feed, or in water, thrice daily. Infants 3-5 years: 10 drops.
To be treated by or in liaison with a qualified medical practitioner. ... haemolytic disease of infants
Internal. Elderflower and Peppermint tea (catarrhal). Ginkgo tea.
Tablets/capsules. Ginkgo. Improvement reported in moderate loss.
Topical. Garlic oil. Injection of 3-4 drops at night.
Wax in the ear. Mixture: 30 drops oil Eucalyptus, 1 drop Tincture Capsicum (or 3 of Ginger), 1oz (30ml) Olive oil. Inject 4-5 drops, warm.
Black Cohosh Drops. It is claimed that John Christopher (USA) improved many cases of moderate hearing loss with topical use of 5-10 drops Liquid Extract in 1oz oil of Mullein (or Olive oil).
Pulsatilla Drops. Tincture Pulsatilla and glycerol 50/50. 2-3 drops injected at bedtime. Assists auditory nerve function. (Arthur Hyde)
Nerve deafness due to fibroma of the 8th cranial nerve, or after surgery – oral: Mistletoe tea for temporary relief. ... hearing loss
Symptoms: chill, shivering, headache, sore throat, weakness, tiredness, dry cough, aching muscles and joints, body temperature rise, fever. Virus tends to change, producing new strains.
Influenza lowers the body’s resistance to infection. For stomach influenza, see: GASTROENTERITIS. Effects of influenza may last for years.
Treatment. (Historical) One of the most virulent strains of history was during the outbreak after World War I. The American Eclectic School of physicians treated successfully with: 5 drops Liquid Extract Lobelia, 5 drops Liquid Extract Gelsemium, and 10 drops Liquid Extract Bryonia. Distilled water to 4oz. 1 teaspoon 4-5 times daily.
Bedrest. Drink plenty of fluids (herb teas, fruit juices). Hot bath at bedtime.
Alternatives. Teas. Elderflowers and Peppermint, Yarrow, Boneset, Pleurisy root.
Tablets/capsules. Lobelia, Cinnamon.
Potter’s Peerless Composition Essence.
Powders. Cinnamon, with pinch of Cayenne.
Dose: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon) every 2 hours.
Formula. Lobelia 2; Pleurisy root 1; Peppermint quarter; Valerian half. Dose: Liquid Extracts: one 5ml teaspoon. Tinctures: two 5ml teaspoons. Acute cases: every 2 hours in hot water. On remission of temperature: thrice daily.
Nurse Ethel Wells, FNIMH. Half an ounce each: Elderflowers, Yarrow, White Horehound, Peppermint, Boneset. Infuse 2 tablespoons in 1 pint boiling water in a clean teapot. Drink teacupful at bedtime and the remainder, cold, in teacupful doses the following day.
Inhalant. Aromatherapy: 5 drops each, Niaouli, Pine and Eucalyptus oils in bowl of hot water; inhale steam with head covered. See also: FRIAR’S BALSAM. 4 drops Peppermint oil in bath.
Diet. 3-day fast, where possible, with herb teas and fruit juices.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A 7,500iu. Vitamin C 3g. ... influenza
Symptoms: Two-to-four-day fever precedes a red rash which develops into clear blisters. Blisters dry up to form scabs that drop off leaving scars. Lesions and pain follow the path of the infected nerve. Pain described as intense, burning, itching: may persist for months as post-herpetic neuralgia. When virus affects the fifth cranial nerve vision will be impaired. In the elderly it may reveal some underlying malignancy. Patients having chemotherapy or radiotherapy are at risk.
Alternatives. Specific anti-viral therapy. Remedies in general use: Asafoetida, Jamaica Dogwood, Marigold, Mistletoe, Nettles, Passion flower, Poke root, Queen’s Delight, Valerian, Wild Lettuce, Wild Yam. St John’s Wort plays a role in reducing the long-lasting neuralgia. Echinacea imparts strength to endure the ordeal. The addition of a stomachic remedy (Gentian) to a prescription may prove beneficial. Mild short-term analgesics include: Oats, Valerian, Asafoetida, Passion flower, Wild Lettuce, Hops.
Tea. Formula. Equal parts: Oats, Nettles, St John’s Wort.
Decoction. Formula. Echinacea root 2; Valerian half; St John’s Wort 1.
Tablets. Formula. Hops BHP (1983) 45mg; Passion flower BHP (1983) 100mg; Extract Valerian 5:1 20mg. (Gerard 99)
Powders. Combine: Echinacea 2; Jamaican Dogwood 1; Gentian root 1. 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily.
Tinctures. Alternatives. (1) Formula. Equal parts Goldenseal and Lupulin (Hops). Or, (2) Formula. Queen’s Delight 1; Valerian quarter; Goldenseal quarter; Asafoetida quarter. Dose: 1 teaspoon in water thrice daily.
Practitioner. Tincture Gelsemium: 5 drops (0.3ml) in water, as indicated, for pain.
Formula. Liquid Extract Hops, half an ounce; Liquid Extract Echinacea, 1oz; Tincture Goldenseal, 30 drops; Tincture Rhubarb BP, 1oz. Essence of Peppermint 20 drops. Water to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons in water after meals. (Arthur Barker, FNIMH)
Topical. Aloe Vera. Houseleek – fresh juice or pulp. Evening Primrose oil. Wash with decoction of seaweed (Bladderwrack, Kelp): follow with Zinc and Castor oil cream or ointment. Slippery Elm made into a paste (powder mixed with few teaspoons of milk): apply after cleaning with Olive oil. Castor oil compress. Dilute Tea Tree oil. Ice-cube – 10 minutes on, 5 minutes off.
Russian study. Liquorice powder ointment.
Diet: Oatmeal porridge. Muesli with oats. Yoghurt. Wholefoods.
Supplementation. One high potency multivitamin daily. Anti-herpes amino acid L-lysine; one 500mg tablet, twice daily. Vitamin B12, 10mg daily. Upon relief, reduce L-lysine to one daily. (Dr L. Mervyn) Minerals: Calcium, Selenium, Zinc.
Self-Care. Resist temptation to touch sores. No sharing of face cloths, towels, etc.
Note: The chicken-pox virus is believed to lie dormant in nerve cells around the spine for many years, after people catch the childhood infection. Virgorous massage of the spine may trigger an attack by activating the dormant virus.
Information. Herpes Association, 41 North Road, London N7 9DP, UK. Send SAE. ... herpes zoster
Important inhalants: Eucalyptus, Thyme, Hyssop, Rosemary, Lavender, Chamomile, Mint, Tea Tree. Aromatherapy offers oils of the above herbs: 6-12 drops floated on the surface of 2 pints boiling water after being allowed to stand 3 minutes. See: FRIAR’S BALSAM. TEA TREE.
Alternative method. In place of a basin use an aluminium hot water bottle into which boiling water is poured. Add few drops Friar’s Balsam, Olbas, or essential oil. Insert a large funnel into which the mouth and nose are placed to breathe the vapour. Stop up any free space in the neck of the bottle with a tissue. Camphorated oil. 4 teaspoons to litre boiling water. Inhale steam with aid of a towel over head.
Inhalant Salve for nasal congestion and frontal sinusitis. Oil Pine 1ml; Oil Eucalyptus 2ml; Oil Peppermint 2ml; Vaseline to 30 grams. Melt the Vaseline. Add oils. Stir until cold. For direct use or inhaled from boiling water. (F. Fletcher Hyde, FNIMH)
Note: Inhalation: also through a tissue, steam or air-diffuser. Odours act upon the sense of smell and influence mucous secretion of the respiratory organs. ... inhalations
Causes (female). Absence of menses, dry vaginal entrance, tension, stress, tiredness, deformed or retroverted womb, cervical polyps, inflammation of the cervix or ovaries, fibroids, cystic ovaries, diabetes, drugs, steroids, psychogenic factors. Women who use intra-uterine devices may become infertile from tubal infection. The Pill affects fertility. Vitamin E deficiency. Professor Richard Morisset (World Health Organisation) asserts STD’s account for more than 50 per cent infertility in women. Alcohol is a factor.
Causes (male). Inadequate seman, testicular or prostate infection, orchitis (from past mumps), kidney failure, chronic lung disease from smoking, thyroid deficiency, liver and other infections, calcium or Vitamin E deficiency. Low sperm count is found in regular drinkers of alcohol. 30 per cent cases of infertility are found to be due to the male.
“Women who drink more than one cup of coffee a day may find it harder to become pregnant.” (American study reported in The Guardian, 28.12.88)
“Vegetarian women have lower levels of oestrogen. The amount of fibre women eat is believed to affect oestrogen levels in their blood.” (Dr Elwyn Hughes, University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology)
“Drinking more than four cups of coffee a day and smoking more than 20 cigarettes could be a dangerous combination for male fertility.” (Research study, North Carolina, USA)
Women whose mothers smoked when they were pregnant are only 50 per cent as fertile as women who were not exposed (when in the uterus) to a mother’s tobacco smoke. (C. Weinberg, “Reduced Fecundity in Women with Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoking.” American Journal of Epidemiology 1989; 129 p1072)
Margarine has been implicated in low sperm counts.
Alternatives. Endocrine balancers.
Female. Tea. Equal parts: herbs – Motherwort, Agnus Castus and Oats. Mix. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Dose, 1 cup 2-3 times daily.
Tablets: Agnus Castus, dosage as on bottle.
Liquid Extracts: equal parts Agnus Castus and Helonias: 1 teaspoon in water 2-3 times daily.
Maria Treben: 25 drops fresh Mistletoe juice in water, on empty stomach, night and morning.
External: Castor oil abdominal packs twice weekly.
Male. Ginseng, Gotu Kola, or the traditional combination of Damiana, Saw Palmetto and Kola. Tablets, liquid extracts, powders or tinctures. Tinctures (practitioner): Capsicum Fort BPC 5ml; Saw Palmetto (1:5) 10ml; Damiana (1:5) 50ml; Prickly Ash (1:5) 10ml. Aqua to 100ml. 1 teaspoon in water, thrice daily. (Arthur Hyde FNIMH)
An orange a day helps keep sperm OK. (Important role of Vitamin C – New Scientist 1992 NO.1812 p20)
Fasting. Mrs A. Rylin, Sweden, had been trying to conceive for 2 years. Conventional medicine proved ineffective until both she and her husband decided to fast for ten days. Within a month she conceived. Other successes reported.
Diet. (For both partners) Vitamin A foods. Wholefoods, oatmeal products (breakfast oats, etc). Regular raw food days. No alcohol. The key mineral for infertility is zinc, a deficiency of which may be made up with bran which is not only high in zinc but in soluble fibre. Not to eat any green peas, which are mildly contraceptive.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin C (1 gram). Vitamin E (500iu). One B-complex tablet, including B6. The calcium ion is the key regulator of human sperm function – Calcium Lactate 300mg (2 tablets thrice daily at meals). Zinc – 2 tablets or capsules at night. Folic acid, 400mcg. Dolomite. Iron.
Notes. Consider Vitamin B12 and Iron deficiency when evaluating anaemia in infertile couples.
20 percent of men suffer infertility and produce high levels of superoxide radicals in their semen. Vitamin E, an antioxidant, is believed to mop up their superoxide radicals.
Observe sign of zinc deficiency: white flecks on nails. ... infertility
Dr Compton Burnett regarded Thuja as the remedy for fatty tissues which he believed to be sycotic by nature.
Alternatives. Liquid Extract Thuja: 5 drops in water, 3 times daily.
Formula: Liquid Extracts: American Bearsfoot half an ounce, Bayberry 1oz, Barberry 60 drops, Syrup Marshmallow 2oz, water to 8oz. Dose: two teaspoons after meals. (Arthur Barker, FNIMH)
Topical. Wipe area with Liquid Extract Thuja 2-3 times daily. Surgical excision usually successful. ... lipoma
Treatment. Because of plastic surgery deformities are now seldom seen, yet herbalism may still have a case in the absence of conventional drugs.
Teas. Elecampane. Gotu Kola.
Red Clover compound.
Arthur Barker. Liquid Extract Echinacea 1oz; Liquid Extract Queen’s Delight half an ounce; Tincture Goldenseal 30 drops. Syr Senna 2oz. Distilled, or pure spring water to 8oz. Dose: 1 dessertspoon after meals.
Topical. Marshmallow and Slippery Elm poultices or ointment. Oil of Mullein. Aloe Vera. Castor oil packs. ... lupus vulgaris
Alternative Treatment:– Rest. Stress-free lifestyle. Stop smoking. Few hot drinks but fruit juices and herb teas.
To strengthen the heart: Hawthorn.
To counter infection: Echinacea.
Rheumatic myocarditis: Meadowsweet.
BHP (1983) combination: Hawthorn, Cactus, Lime flowers, Mistletoe, Skullcap.
Tea. Combine equal parts: Mistletoe, Lime flowers, Broom. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup water. Bring to boil and simmer 1 minute. 1 cup thrice daily.
Tablets/capsules. Hawthorn. Mistletoe. Broom.
Tinctures. 20ml Hawthorn, 5ml Marigold (Calendula), 20ml Cactus grand., 10ml Echinacea. Mix. Dose: one teaspoon thrice daily.
Liquid Extracts. (Arthur Barker) Combine: Hawthorn 15ml; Cactus 15ml; Hops 4ml. Dose: 15-30 drops thrice daily.
Spartiol Extract. (Klein)
Anti-coagulants: indicated after an attack. (Practitioner)
Spirits of Camphor. To reduce blood pressure and strengthen heart muscle. To regulate the pulse in chronic myocarditis with wild palpitation. One to five drops in honey, as necessary. (Dr Finlay Ellingwood)
Oil of Camphor. Alternative. 1-2 drops in honey when necessary.
Diet. See: DIET – HEART AND CIRCULATION. Supplements. Daily. Vitamins A 7500iu; B-complex; C 1g; E 1000iu. ... myocarditis
Members are directly involved with patient-care, carrying full responsibility for their recommendations, prescribing medication suitable to the individual biological requirements of each patient. Their role includes patient-counselling, health education and research.
Official recognition of the Institute, indicating its growing importance in the field of medicine came with the historic Grant of Arms by Her Majesty’s College of Heralds. Members regard this as evidence that the Royal Charter of King Henry VIII still stands and that there is no monopoly in healing the sick. See: HENRY VIII, HERBALISTS’ CHARTER.
The Institute played a major role in winning vital concessions for the survival of the herbalist in the passage through Parliament of the Medicine’s Bill. See: MEDICINE’S ACT, 1968.
In connection with the NIMH degree courses in herbal medicine are available at a London University, and Exeter University.
The Institute provides professional indemnity cover for its members, and is engaged in a series of clinical trials to evaluate traditional remedies.
All members are required to adhere to a strict professional Code of Ethics and are entitled to carry after their names the letters of qualification: MNIMH or FNIMH.
Members have a key role in preventative medicine and health promotion in their contribution to improvement of the nation’s health.
Address: 56 Longbrook Street, Exeter EX4 6AH, from which a list of members is obtainable. ... national institute of medical herbalists
Alte rnative s. Oral anti-histamines include: Burdock, Goldenseal, Juniper berries, Marshmallow, Lobelia, Myrrh, Echinacea, Nettles, Parsley root.
Teas. Betony, Boneset, Celery seed, Chamomile, Chickweed, Elderflowers, Hops, Meadowsweet, Motherwort, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, Skullcap, Yarrow.
Tea, formula. Equal parts: Meadowsweet, Nettles, Red Clover. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; 1 cup thrice daily.
Decoction (cold). One teaspoon Barberry bark to each cup cold water steeped overnight. Half-1 cup thrice the following day.
Tablets/capsules. Blue Flag. Echinacea.
Formula. Echinacea 2; Blue Flag 1; Valerian 1. Dose – Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one-third teaspoon). Liquid extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 2 teaspoons. Thrice daily.
Practitioner’s prescription. Tinctures: Echinacea ang. 20ml; Ephedra sinica, 20ml; Urtica dioica, 10ml.
Aqua et 100ml. Sig: 5ml (3i) tds Aq cal. pc.
Alternative:– Liquid extract Echinacea ang. 1 fl oz (30ml). Liquid extract Urtica dioica. 1 fl oz. Liquid extract Humulus lupulus. Half fl oz (15ml). Syrup Senna. 2 fl oz (60ml). Aqua et 8 fl oz (240ml). Sig: 8ml (3i) tds aq cal. pc. (Arthur Barker, FNIMH)
Topical. Wash with infusion of Chickweed, Elderflowers, Mullein, Chamomile or Eucalyptus leaves.
Oil of Evening Primrose. Aloe Vera gel.
Creams: Vitamin E, Chickweed, Elderflowers, Comfrey, Plantain. Diet. See: DIET – SKIN DISEASES.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A (7500iu). Vitamin C (2g). ... nettlerash
Treatment. Appropriate to all types. To enhance growth of new nerve fibres as well as to assuage pain. Alternatives. Catnep (inflammation), Chamomile, Cramp bark, Gelsemium, Ginseng, Fringe Tree bark, Ladyslipper, Hops, Oats, Valerian, Wild Yam.
Tea. Combine equal parts: Catnep, Skullcap, Chamomile. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. 1 cup freely.
Decoction. Combine equal parts: Cramp bark, Valerian. One heaped teaspoon to each cup water gently simmered 10-20 minutes. Half-1 cup thrice daily.
Tablets/capsules. Chamomile, Cramp bark, Ginseng, Skullcap, Valerian.
Powders. Combine, Cramp bark 1; Liquorice half; Valerian half; Wild Yam half. Dose: 500mg thrice daily.
Liquid extracts. Combine: Chamomile 1oz; Hops half an ounce; Skullcap 60 drops; Cramp bark 1oz; water to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons in water after meals. (A. Barker)
Tinctures. Formula: Cramp bark 3; Chamomile 2; Hops 2; Peppermint 1. Dose: 2 teaspoons thrice daily. Practitioner. Tincture Gelsemium BPC (1973). Dose: 0.3ml (5 drops).
Topical. Oil of St John’s Wort. Cloves, Cajeput, Chamomile. Poultices. Chamomile, Yarrow.
Vitamins. B1, B2, B6, B12, B-complex.
Pantothenic acid.
Minerals. Magnesium. Dolomite. Manganese. ... neuritis
Causes: injury, mumps, or infection from other parts of the body, as from epididymitis.
Symptoms: testicles enlarged and painful; fever. Nausea. Sensation of weight.
Treatment. Analgesics, anti-inflammatories.
Teas: Clivers, Fumitory, Burdock root (decoction). Freely.
Tablets/capsules. Poke root. Echinacea. Prickly Ash. Pulsatilla. (Pulsatilla useful: American Dispensary)
Formula. Equal parts: Pulsatilla, Lobelia, Poke root. Dose – Liquid extracts: 30-60 drops. Tinctures: 60-120 drops. Powders: 375mg (quarter of a teaspoon). Thrice daily.
A. Barker, FNIMH. Dec Jam Sarsae Co Conc BPC 1oz. Liquid Extract Wild Carrot 1oz. Liquid Extract Corn Silk half an ounce. Mist Senna Co BP 2oz. Water to 8oz. Dose: 2 teaspoons in water thrice daily after meals.
External. Slippery Elm or Black Bryony poultice. Camphorated oil. Ice pack. ... orchitis
Even as too low body fluids may kindle emotions of anger and irritability, so too much water has a depressing effect, bringing about an emotional state simulating paranoia. Administration of a timely diuretic (Parsley or Juniper berry tea) is sometimes known to raise the spirits.
Pulsatilla. (N. Gosling FNIMH, Herbal Practitioner, Apr 1979, p.11) ... paranoia
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