The discoloration is due to blood collecting under the skin.
Habitat: Plentiful on commons, heaths, and in meadows, as well as on sea cliffs, but varies considerably in growth and development with the richness of the soil.
Features ? The stems are four to six inches long, and under suitable soil conditions, branched below. The lower leaves are opposite each other, and alternate higher up the stem, small, dark green, lanceolate or nearly rhomboid above, deeply cut, proceeding directly from the stem. The flowers are small, axillary, and range in hue between white and purple, while some are delicately variegated with yellow. The taste is bitter, salty and slightly astringent.Action: Astringent and tonic.
This herb, as its name indicates, is valued mainly as an application ininflammation and weakness of the eyes, and is frequently combined with Golden Seal to make an excellent lotion for this purpose. A large pinch of the herb should be infused with sufficient boiling water for each application. The eyebath should be freshly filled for each eye, care being taken to strain thoroughly before using the tepid lotion.Euphrasia is also employed externally to arrest hemorrhages.... eyebrightHabitat: Dry woods, throughout Central and Southern States of North America. Features ? A tree-like shrub, ten to twenty feet high. Fruit shiny black, sweet and
edible. Young bark glossy purplish-brown, with scattered warts. Old bark greyish-brown, inner surface white. Fracture short. Root bark cinnamon colour. Taste bitter,astringent.Part used ? Root bark (preferred); also bark of stem and branches.Action: Uterine tonic, nervine, anti-spasmodic.
Uterine weaknesses, leucorrhaea, dysmenorrhea. Prevention of miscarriage—given four or five weeks before. Infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint of boiling water—table-spoonful doses.... black hawHabitat: The dried rhizome and roots are imported from the U.S.A., to which country and Canada the plant is indigenous.
Features ? Thick, hard and knotty, the root is bitter and acrid in taste, and gives off a rather nauseating smell.Part used ? Rhizome and roots.Action: Astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue and alterative.
The decoction of 1 ounce to 1 pint (reduced from 1 1/2 pints) of water, is administered in wineglassful doses. Its chief importance lies in the treatment of rheumatism, and the root figures frequently in herbal prescriptions for this complaint. In small doses it is useful in children's diarrhoea, and is reputed to be a remedy for St. Vitus' Dance (chorea), although its efficacy here is dubious.Cimicifuga should be taken with care, as overdoses produce nausea and vomiting.... cohosh, blackHabitat: Hedgerows, waste ground.
Features ? Stem stiff, erect, freely branched, up to four feet high. Leaves greyish-green, upper ovate, lower cordate, in pairs, each pair pointing in opposite direction to next pair, crenate, hairy, stalked. Flowers (July and August) purplish, labiate, in rings just above leaves. Disagreeable odour.Part used ? Herb.Action: Stimulant, expectorant, diaphoretic, antispasmodic.
Coughs, colds and bronchial complaints generally. Hool prefers this herb to the white Horehound (Marrubium vulgare), and makes wide claims on its behalf. He recommends it in the treatment of consumption, various menstrual troubles, and parturition—in the last-named instance combined with Motherwort. "In chronic coughs, accompanied by spitting of blood," he tells us, "it will be found most excellent, either of itself or combined with other reliable remedies such as Lobelia, Marshmallow, Hyssop, etc."... horehound, blackThe eyelids are held in place by ligaments attached to the socket’s bony edges.
They consist of thin plates of fibrous tissue (called tarsal plates) covered by muscle and a thin layer of skin.
The inner layer is covered by an extension of the conjunctiva.
Along the edge of each lid are two rows of eyelashes.
Immediately behind the eyelashes are the openings of the ducts leading from the meibomian glands, which secrete the oily part of the tear film.
The lids act as protective shutters, closing as a reflex action if anything approaches the eye.
They also smear the tear film across the cornea.... eyelid
Action: cholagogue, digestive, hepatic.
Uses: Indigestion. To increase bile production in liver disorders and to increase intestinal peristalsis. Dyskinesias. Gall bladder disorders. Constipation. Dyspepsia.
Preparations: Powder. 230mg capsules; 3 capsules midday and evening 15 minutes before meals. (Arkocaps)
Freshly pressed Juice: half-1 cup daily. If too pungent mix with a little Slippery Elm powder. ... black radish
Alfalfa tea freely.
Of value: Kelp, Irish Moss, Iceland Moss.
Diet. Vitamin A foods, carrots, bilberries, Cod Liver oil.
Supplements. Vitamin A, Beta-carotene. C (2g), E (400iu). B-complex, B2, Niacin, Zinc. ... eyes - night blindness
Alternatives. Plantain, Ginkgo. Teas, tablets, etc.
Topical. Cold compress: Witch Hazel.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamins C (500mg); E (400iu). Beta-carotene. Palming. ... eyes – pain
Tea. Equal parts: Clivers, Wild Carrot, Yarrow. Mix. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup 2-3 times daily.
Topical. Soak cotton wool pads with Witch Hazel Distilled Extract and place over the closed eyelids for ten minutes, once or more daily. ... eyes – pouches under
Diet. Low salt, low fat. High fibre. Dandelion coffee.
Supplements. Evening Primrose, one 500mg capsule morning and evening. Vitamin B-complex. Brewer’s yeast, 2 teaspoons. Zinc, 15mg. ... eyes - shadows under
Fennel eye compress. Steep teabag in cold water and apply.
Chickweed Lotion. Take a handful of Chickweed, wash well, crush with a rolling pin, infuse in two cups boiling water until cool. Use as a compress or in an eye bath two or more times daily.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A 7500iu. Vitamin B2 10mg. Vitamin C 1g. Vitamin E 400iu. Zinc.
Palming. Bilberries.
If persistent, consult eye specialist. ... eyes – sore
Action: relaxing nervine, sedative, spasmolytic, vaso-dilator, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti- rheumatic, anti-cough, regulates autonomic system, emmenagogue, natural source of salicylic acid which has an aspirin-like effect. The agent works powerfully upon the female reproductive organs. Analgesic (mild).
Constituents: triterpine glycosides.
Uses: Cramps, sciatica, low back pain, facial and intercostal neuralgia, stiff neck, aches after strenuous exercise. Painful menstruation and menopausal symptoms, breast pains, threatened abortion, migraine of hormonal origin and pain in the ovaries. Tinnitus. Oestrogen-deficiency. Scarlet fever. Fatty heart.
Combines, equal parts with Bogbean for rheumatism; with Blue Cohosh for ovaries and womb; with Elecampane for whooping cough. Psychological: of value for melancholia, hysteria and nervous depression. Peter Smith, 19th century explorer, claimed the Indians used it with success for yellow fever. Contra-indicated in pregnancy and lactation.
Preparations: Unless otherwise prescribed, daily dose: dried rhizome and root, 40-200mg or by decoction; tincture (1:10, 60 per cent ethanol), 0.4-2ml. (British Herbal Compendium, Vol 1). Antispasmodic tincture (Potter’s) Used in traditional Chinese medicine. ... black cohosh
Growth in an abnormal direction may be due to injury to the lid or, more commonly, to infection.
Severe blepharitis may destroy the roots of the lashes.
Trachoma, an infection in which the lid is distorted by scarring, may lead to trichiasis.
With age, the lashes become finer and fewer.... eyelashes, disorders of
Action: febrifuge (mild), astringent, diuretic, anti-rheumatic. Fruits are a rich source of Vitamin C, and have a Vitamin P effect. Anti-inflammatory for rheumatic disorders and gout. Nerve tonic. Hypotensor. Mild antispasmodic. Cooling.
Uses: As a tea in early stages of fevers until deeper-acting and more specific treatment is prescribed. Capillary fragility. High blood pressure (fruit). Sore throat (tea used as a gargle). Irritable bowel. Renal calculi, oliguria, renal colic.
Combination: equal parts: with Agrimony and German Chamomile for diverticulosis.
Preparations: Leaves: 1oz to 1 pint boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. One-half-1 cup freely.
Fruits: Black currant syrup, BPC.
Note: Seeds are twice as rich in gamma linolenic acid than an equivalent amount in Evening Primrose oil. Assists production of prostaglandins that control blood pressure and regulate metabolism. ... black currant
Action. Antiseptic, antispasmodic, mild liver relaxant, promotes flow of bile, a laxative that acts without griping.
Uses: Chronic indigestion associated with liver disorder BHP (1983). Chronic liver congestion, non- obstructive jaundice, inflammation of the gall bladder.
Combination: with Dandelion (2) and Black root (1) an aid to liver function in cirrhosis.
History. Used by the Menominee Indians for internal purification.
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Decoction: 1oz (30g) to 1 pint (500ml) water gently simmered 20 minutes: One-third to half a cup. Liquid extract: 10-60 drops in water.
Tincture BHP (1983): 2.5ml-10ml.
Powder. Mix sifted powder with pinch Cayenne: 1-4g. ... black root
Contains steroidal spirostane glycosides.
Action: rubefacient, bruise-healer. Resolvent.
Uses: Traditional: scraped root used externally as a rub for gout, rheumatism, and painful joints; and as a cold poultice for blackeye and bruises generally. Steeped in strong wine (teaspoon to 8oz wine) for 8 days – a lotion for chilblains. Berries steeped in gin used for the same purpose.
Preparations: Tincture: 1 part pulp to 5 parts alcohol. Macerate 8 days, strain, for external use.
Cream: Tamus cream or ointment. (Weleda, Nelson)
Pulped fresh root: as a poultice for chilblains or gout. ... bryony, black
Action: antibacterial, antiseptic, haemostatic, powerful astringent to stomach and intestines.
Uses: Irritable bowel, dysentery, mucous colitis, chronic catarrh, haemorrhage, mouth ulcer, spongy and bleeding gums (mouth wash), sore throat (gargle). A wash for varicose ulcer. Nosebleed. “Indigestion in children.” (Chinese Traditional)
Reported use in cancer (J.L. Hartwell, Lloydia, 33, 97, 1970)
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Powder: 0.3 to 1 gram in honey or banana mash.
Tincture BHP (1983) 1:5 in 45 per cent alcohol. Dose half-1 teaspoon (2.5-5ml) in water. ... catechu, black
Symptoms: blinking, watering, acute discomfort. Sensation of grit in the eye does not always imply foreign body, but symptoms of conjunctivitis or keratitis. Automatic blinking is sometimes enough to clear offending object.
Treatment. External. Evert lid and remove. Swab out with dilute Witch Hazel on cotton wool. Inject one drop Castor oil, (also good for scratched cornea), Aloe Vera gel or juice. Fenugreek seed puree. Juice of Houseleek and dairy cream.
Difficult case. Removal of particles of iron or dust, apply mucilage of Slippery Elm powder to eye – patient lying on his back, a second person injecting it into corner of eye, the patient moving eye in opposite direction. Safe and healing. Clean eye and bathe with warm milk.
Referral to consultant ophthalmologist. ... eyes – foreign body
A study carried out at Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, has shown that those who use extended-wear soft contact lenses are more likely to develop microbial keratitis than users of other lenses.
Treatment. Internal: Powders, Tinctures or Liquid Extracts. Combine Echinacea 2; Blue Flag 1; Goldenseal 1. Doses: Powders: 500mg (one-third teaspoon or two 00 capsules). Liquid Extracts 30-60 drops.
Tinctures: 1-2 teaspoons. In water, or honey.
Comfrey. To promote epithelial regeneration. Potential benefit far outweighs possible risk.
Evening Primrose capsules.
Topical. Alternatives. (1) Goldenseal Eye Lotion: 1 part Goldenseal root macerated in 40 parts distilled extract of Witch Hazel 2-3 days. Strain. 5-10 drops in eyebath half filled with warm water; douche. Wipe eyelids. (2) Aloe Vera juice or gel. (3) Moisten Chamomile teabag with warm water and fix over eye for styes, etc. (4) Bathe with Periwinkle minor tea: 2 teaspoons to cup boiling water allowed to cool and strain. (5) Elderflower water. The above to relieve pain, redness and gritty sensation. (6) Evening Primrose lotion. (7) Raw carrot compress to ripen stye. Nasturtium seed compress.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A 7500iu, Vitamin B2 10mg, Vitamin C 3g, Vitamin E 400iu, Zinc 15mg. Referral to consultant ophthalmologist. ... eyes – infection
A preliminary therapeutic trial in patients with ageing macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy showed that supplementation with Beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Selenium halted the progression of degenerative changes and in some cases even brought some improvement. (Age and Ageing 1991, 20(1) 60-9). Bilberries.
Referral to a consultant ophthalmologist. ... eyes - macular degeneration
Services of a qualified optician should be sought after limits of the Bate’s Method of eyesight training have been reached.
Alternatives. Tablets/capsules. Ginseng. Gotu Kola.
Powders. Mix. Parts: Gentian 2; Dandelion 1; pinch Cayenne. Dose: 500mg, (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon) thrice daily. (To build-up good general health)
Cider Vinegar. 2 teaspoons to tumbler water; sips during the day.
Topical. Teas. Any one: Eyebright, Fennel, German Chamomile, Plantain, Rue. 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes, strain, half fill eyebath and use as a douche.
Diet. Low salt. High fibre. Bilberries.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin A, 7500iu. Beta-carotene. B-complex. Vitamin C, 100mg. Vitamin E, 100iu. Zinc.
Supportive. Palming. Bate’s exercises. ... eyes – sight deterioration
Topical. Soak cotton wool pads with Distilled Extract Witch Hazel and apply to eyelids for 5-10 minutes. Potato. Apply slices of raw potato, or potato poultice.
Teabag. Moisten Chamomile or Fennel teabag with cold water and apply.
Cucumber, fresh. Apply slices to closed eyes.
Supplements. Vitamin A 7500iu. Vitamin B2 10mg. Vitamin E 100iu. Vitamin C 1g. Zinc 15mg.
Bates Method eye exercises. Palming.
EYES – VISUAL DISORDERS. May be due to strain, ageing, hereditary. Poor sight may be related to poor food.
Symptoms. Sensitivity to light, near or far sight deficient, squint.
Treatment. Attention to general condition, circulation and nervous system. Ginseng, Garlic, Kelp, Bilberries, Cider vinegar.
Diet. See: DIET — GENERAL.
Supplementation. Vitamins A, B-complex, B2 (10mg daily), C (500mg daily), D, E (100iu daily). Zinc. General: Refer to a qualified optician. Palming. ... eyes – tired
black hairy tongue (BHT) a harmless condition characterized by the appearance of elongated filiform *papillae on the upper surface of the tongue. The usual cause is an overgrowth of bacteria that accumulate on the papillae and create pigments giving the tongue a black appearance. Known predisposing factors include smoking, excessive consumption of tea and/or coffee, poor oral hygiene, trigeminal *neuralgia, and *dry mouth.... black fly
FAMILY: Piperaceae
SYNONYMS: Piper, pepper.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A perennial woody vine up to 5 metres high with heart-shaped leaves and small white flowers. The berries turn from red to black as they mature – black pepper is the dried fully grown unripe fruit.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to south west India; cultivated extensively in tropical countries. Major producers are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Madagascar. It is also distilled in Europe and America from the imported dried fruits.
OTHER SPECIES: The so-called white pepper is the dried ripe fruit with the outer pericarp removed. Not to be confused with cayenne pepper or paprika from the capsicum species, which are used to make an oleoresin.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Both black and white pepper have been used in the East for over 4000 years for medicinal and culinary purposes. In Chinese medicine, white pepper is used to treat malaria, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea, stomach ache and other digestive problems. In Greece it is used for intermittent fever and to fortify the stomach. ‘The mendicant monks of India who cover daily considerable distances on foot, swallow 7–9 grains of pepper a day. This gives them remarkable endurance.’.
ACTIONS: Analgesic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, aperitif, aphrodisiac, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, laxative, rubefacient, stimulant (nervous, circulatory, digestive), stomachic, tonic.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by steam distillation from the black peppercorns, dried and crushed. (‘Light’ and ‘heavy’ oils are produced by the extraction of the low or high boiling fractions respectively.) An oleoresin is also produced by solvent extraction, mainly for flavour use.
CHARACTERISTICS: A water-white to pale olive mobile liquid with a fresh, dry-woody, warm, spicy scent. It blends well with frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, spices and florals (in minute quantities).
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Mainly monoterpenes (70–80 per cent): thujene, pinene, camphene, sabinene, carene, myrcene, limonene, phellandrene, and sesquiterpenes (20–30 per cent) and oxygenated compounds.
SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-sensitizing, irritant in high concentration due to rubefacient properties. Use in moderation only.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
Skin care: Chilblains.
Circulation muscles and joints: Anaemia, arthritis, muscular aches and pains, neuralgia, poor circulation, poor muscle tone (muscular atonia), rheumatic pain, sprains, stiffness.
Respiratory system: Catarrh, chills.
Digestive system: Colic, constipation, diarrhoea, flatulence, heartburn, loss of appetite, nausea.
Immune system: Colds, ’flu, infections and viruses.
OTHER USES: Used in certain tonic and rubefacient preparations. Used for unusual effects in perfumery work; for example, with rose or carnation in oriental or floral fragrances. The oil and oleoresin are used extensively in the food industry, as well as in alcoholic drinks.... pepper, black