Watercress Health Dictionary

Disease caused by the liver ?uke, Fasciola hepatica. This is found in sheep, cattle and other herbivorous animals, in which it is the cause of the condition known as liver rot. It measures about 35 × 13 mm, and is transmitted to humans from the infected animals by snails. In Britain it is the most common disease found in animal slaughterhouses. The danger to humans is in eating vegetables – particularly wild watercress – that have been infected by snails; there have been several outbreaks of fascioliasis in Britain due to eating contaminated wild watercress, and much larger outbreaks from the same cause have been reported in France. The disease is characterised by fever, dyspepsia (indigestion), heavy sweating, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, URTICARIA, and a troublesome cough. In the more serious cases there may be severe damage to the LIVER, with or without JAUNDICE. The diagnosis is clinched by the ?nding of the eggs of the ?uke in the stools. The two drugs used in treatment are bithionol and chloroquine. Even though many cases are quite mild and recover spontaneously, prevention is particularly important. This consists primarily of never eating wild watercress, as this is the main cause of infestation. Lettuces have also been found to be infested.... fascioliasis

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale).

Plant Part Used: Leaf.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: The fresh leaf is traditionally eaten raw or juiced and administered orally for anemia, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis and tuberculosis.

Safety: The leaves and stems of this plant are widely consumed and generally regarded as safe. Caution is advised as this plant may carry liver flukes or other parasites if grown in contaminated water.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, children under 4 y, stomach or intestinal ulcers, inflammatory renal disease.

Clinical Data: Clinical: anticancer, chemopreventive, potential inhibition of oxidative metabolism of acetaminophen (fresh plant).

* See entry for Berro in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... berro

National Formulary of UnaniMedicine, Part I, equated Jirjeer with Brucea sativa Mill. or Nasturtium officinale R. Br.

Nasturtium officinale, found in Europe, is known as watercress. Indian cress is cultivated in gardens as a creeper. Brucea is a totally different species (Simaroubaceae). Taraamirra of Unani medicine should be equated with Eru- ca sativa and not with Brucea sativa.

Action: Taraamiraa (Jirjeer)— used in Unani medicine as a spermatic tonic (powder of seeds is administered with a half-fried egg), also as a blood purifier, diuretic, emmenagogue and deobstruent. Leaf juice—used as a lotion for blotches, spots and blemishes.

Nasturtium officinale (Brassicaceae): Antiscorbutic and stimulant. A rich source of vitamins A and E, also of ascorbic acid. Seeds contain glucon- casturtin. Used for metabolic disorders, anaemia, strangury, kidney and bladder disorders and catarrh of the respiratory tract.

Eruca sativa Mill.: Cultivated in North India; known as Taraamiraa, Siddhaartha, Bhutaghna. Seeds are used like mustard. Seeds—antibacterial. Crude juice of the plant inhibited E. coli, S. typhi and B. subtlis. Seeds contain (4-Me-thio)-Bu-glucosinolate (glucoerucin) as K and tetra-Me-N salts. A composition is used in induration of liver.... brucea sativa

(French) Resembling the watercress Capucine, Capucinia, Capucinea... capucina

Carbenia benedicta. N.O. Compositae.

Synonym: Carduus benedictus, Blessed Thistle.

Features ? Thomas Johnson, in his edition of Gerard's Herbal, published in 1636, gives us the following description of this member of the familiar thistle family ? "The stalks of Carduus benedictus are round, rough and pliable, and being parted into diverse branches, do lie flat on the ground ; the leaves are jagged round about and full of

harmless prickles in the edges; the heads on the top of the stalks are set with and environed with sharp prickling leaves, out of which standeth a yellow flower; the seed is long and set with hairs at the top like a beard; the root is white and parted into strings; the whole herb, leaves and stalks, and also the heads, are covered with a thin down."

Action: Although more popular among the old herbalists than among those of to-day. Holy Thistle is still valued for its tonic, stimulant and diaphoretic properties.

Mainly used in digestive troubles, the 1 ounce to 1 pint infusion, given warm in wineglass doses several times daily, is also found capable of breaking up obstinate colds. As it is held to stimulate the mammary glands, the infusion has been given with the object of promoting the secretion of milk.

Tilke is enthusiastic in his praise of the herb ? "I have found it such a clarifier of the blood, that by drinking an infusion once or twice a day, sweeted with honey, instead of tea, it would be a perfect cure for the headache, or what is commonly called the meagrims." The same writer recommends it as a salad "instead of watercresses."

The medicinal use of Holy Thistle goes back far beyond the days of Tilke, or even Johnson. William Turner, Domestic Physician to the Lord Protector Somerset in the reign of King Edward VI, in his Herbal published 1568, agrees with Tilke that the herb is "very good for the headache and the megram."... holy thistle

These are foods the body breaks down into alkali. Alkaline foods are high in sodium and potassium. Almonds, apples, asparagus, bananas, dried beans, beet greens, Brussels sprouts, buttermilk, cabbage, celery, cauliflower, currants, carrots, chestnuts, coconuts, cream; all fruits except prunes, fresh plums and cranberries. Lemons, lima beans, milk, molasses, oranges, parsnips, dried peas, peaches, radishes, raisins, Soya flour, turnips, all green leafy vegetables except sweet corn. Yeast, fresh tomatoes, herb teas, lettuce, watercress. ... alkaline foods

Agents that relieve or cure scurvy. Bogbean, Burdock, Chickweed, Clivers, Cubebs, Blue Flag root, Lemon juice, Sorrel, Nettles, Sarsaparilla, Yellow Parilla, Yellow Dock, Watercress. ... anti-scorbutics

A herb that initiates a change in the metabolism of the body. It exercises a specific chemical action relating to vitamins, hormones, enzymes and minerals. Parsley is one of the most important. Others – Watercress, Alfalfa, Fenugreek seeds, Lettuce, Marshmallow, Carrots. ... biocatalyst

R. Br.

Synonym: Rorippa nasturtium- aquaticum (Linn.) Hayek.

Family: Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.

Habitat: Cultivated in Bengal, Orissa and Punjab.

English: Watercress.

Folk: Piriyaa-Haalim (Punjab), Latputiyaa (Maharashtra).

Action: Leaves—antiscorbutic, expectorant (used in catarrh of the respiratory organs), diuretic (used in kidney and bladder disorders), detoxifying. A lotion of leaves is applied to blotches, spots and blemishes. Fresh herb is used as a blood purifier.

Key application: For catarrh of respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)

Watercress contains vitamin A 4720 IU, ascorbic acid 77 mg/100 g, also thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and biotin; mineral matter 2.2%—calcium 290, phosphorus 140, iron 4.6 mg/100 g, also sulphur, iodine, manganese, zinc, arsenic and copper; proteins 2.9%, amino acid composition includes leucine, phenylalanine, valine, lysine, tyrosine, alanine, threonine, glutamic acid, serine, aspartic acid, cystine, methionine sulphoxide and proline.

The glucosinolate phenethyl isothio- cyanate, which is released upon chewing the leaf, is a chemopreventive agent against lung cancer. (cited in Expanded Commission E Monographs.)

Watercress is contraindicated in gastric and duodenal ulcers and inflammatory kidney diseases. (Francis Brinker.)... nasturtium officinale

Herbs that stimulate the body’s immune system to withstand infection. Alternatives to anti-bacterial substances obtained from micro-organisms as penicillin, streptomycin etc. Those from herbs do not destroy beneficial bacteria normally present in the intestines, neither does the body get used to them.

Some essential oils are natural antibiotics. Others: Blue Flag root, Buchu, Chaparral, Butterbur, Echinacea, Feverfew, Garlic, Goldenseal, Holy Thistle, Horse Radish (Vogel), Juniper berries, Myrrh, Nasturtium, Poke root, Red Clover, Watercress (Vogel), Wild Indigo, Wild Thyme.

Vitamin C is a powerful antibiotic (1-2g daily).

ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES. A group of agents known to reduce inflammation. Action is not to suppress but to enable tissue to return to normal on the strength of its own resources. Some members of the group are helpful for chronic conditions such as polyarthritis and rheumatism caused by a sub-acute inflammation going on quietly over a long time. Others work by blocking prostaglandin synthesis. General. Chamomile (German, Roman), Cowslip root, Fennel, Feverfew, Heartsease, Mistletoe, Turmeric, Yellow Dock.

Specific. Bistort (bowel). Comfrey (bones). Devil’s Claw (muscles). St John’s Wort (nerve tissue). Lignum vitae (rheumatic joints). Poke root (lymph vessels). Eyebright (conjunctivitis: topical as an eye lotion). Horsechestnut (anus). Bogbean (liver and gall bladder).

Steroid-like action. Ginseng, Black Cohosh, Black Haw, Liquorice, Wild Yam.

Aspirin-like action. Birch, Black Willow bark, Meadowsweet, White Poplar bark, White Willow bark, Wintergreen.

Some types of inflammation may be reduced by herbs that stimulate the eliminatory organs – lungs, bowel, skin and kidneys. A timely enema may reduce a high temperature with inflammation, to expel toxins and unload an over-loaded bowel; (Dandelion root, Parsley root, Sarsaparilla).

ANTI-INFLAMMATION FORMULA. (Biostrath). Drops containing cultures combined with extracts derived from medicinal plants possessing known therapeutic properties: Arnica, Bryony, Balm, Chamomile, Horseradish, Marigold, Hypericum, Echinacea.

Indications: colic, inflammation of the alimentary tract. ... anti-infectives

Compounds that protect the body against free radical activity and lipid peroxidation. Free-radical scavengers. Low levels in the tissues reduce the span of human life. High levels enable humans to live longer. The greater the oxidation damage to the DNA, the shorter the lifespan.

Vitamins A, C and E inhibit production of free radicals. Especially effective is beta-carotene, the precursor of Vitamin A, found in carrots, spinach, yams and some green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E and Selenium work together to prevent free radical damage to cell membrane. Antioxidants act favourably on glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

This group claims to have an anti-tumour effect. Epithelial cancers may invade the respiratory and gastro-intestinal tracts, lungs, skin and cervix of the womb. The higher the level of antioxidants in the cells, the lesser the risk of epithelial cell cancer, and blindness in the aged. vChief antioxidants: Alfalfa, Comfrey, Asparagus (fresh), Beet tops, Dandelion leaves, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, Goldenseal, Irish Moss, Parsley, Walnuts, Watercress, Wheat sprouts. Perhaps the cheapest and most effective is Garlic.

Diet. Highly coloured fruits and vegetables: oranges, red and green peppers, carrots, apricots, mangoes, liver and spinach.

Supplements. Beta carotene (Vitamin A), Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Zinc. See: SOD, FREE RADICALS. ... antioxidants

Trace element. Imparts ‘tone’ to walls of blood vessels and muscles.

Deficiency. A diet deficient in Fluorine induces relaxed conditions: varicose veins, weak ligaments. Bone-wasting diseases – osteoporosis, dental decay.

Body effects. Maintains vascular, bone and dental health.

Sources. Meat, fish (where bones are consumed) sardines, salmon. Plants: Garlic, Watercress.

Note: Excess causes: fluorosis – mottling of teeth, arthritic joints and increased density of the bones. Controversial government policy promotes addition of Sodium flouride to water to achieve a minimum of one part per million. ... fluorine

See: WEAKNESS.

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

Toxic means poisonous. Auto-toxaemia is self-poisoning of the blood and tissues from absorption of bacterial toxins formed during infection from acute or chronic inflammatory disease; or due to defective excretory organs (kidneys, bowel, etc). Raw foods produce little waste, but putrefaction of meats and other acid foods in the intestine and colon create an environment in which hostile bacteria flourish. Retrograde tissue change may be brought about by an unhealthy lifestyle and diet where an accumulation of cell wastes dispose to congestion and decomposition.

Treatment. An eliminative group of herbs include: expectorants, diuretics, lymphatics and alteratives to promote chemical breakdown and expulsion of the body’s waste cell products.

Cleansing teas: Gotu Kola, Bogbean, Ginseng, Nettles, Alfalfa. Or, decoctions: Dandelion root (or Dandelion coffee), Burdock root, Yellow Dock root.

Tablets/capsules. Echinacea, Blue Flag root, Goldenseal, Ginseng, Poke root, Seaweed and Sarsaparilla, Garlic, “Natural Herb Tablet”.

Powders, Liquid Extracts, Tinctures. Combine: Echinacea 2; Goldenseal 1; Myrrh quarter. Doses. Powders: Quarter of a teaspoon. Liquid extracts: 30-60 drops. Tinctures: 1-2 teaspoons. In water or honey thrice daily.

Enema: Chamomile.

Saunas and sweat-promoting exercises; epsom salts bath.

Diet. Regular raw food days. Garlic, Onions, Watercress. Low fat, low salt, high fibre. Drink distilled water. Three-day fast once monthly.

Supplements. Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C 1g thrice daily, niacin, sulphur, zinc.

Auto-toxaemia does not refer to the toxaemia of pregnancy, known as eclampsia, for which a different group of herbs is relevant.

Removal of dental amalgam fillings is believed to assist recovery.

Note: Toxaemia may be caused by the action of toxic molecular fragments known as “free-radicals” which corrode cell membranes and kill cells. See: FREE-RADICALS. ... auto-toxaemia

Severe constitutional weakness produced by wasting disease, such as cancer. Deficient nutrition.

Symptoms: loss of appetite, yellow sallow complexion, chronic constipation, low spirits. Even where the liver is not under suspicion, a liver stimulant assists metabolism (Dandelion, Chiretta, Fringe Tree). To stimulate powers of resistance and combat infection – Echinacea.

Alternatives. Teas. Agrimony, Black Horehound, Hops, Nettles, Gota Kola, Ginseng, Fenugreek seeds, Holy Thistle, Betony, Oats, Life root.

Formula (for weight loss). Equal parts: herbs: Agrimony, Nettles, Plantain. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. 1 cup freely.

Gentian. 1 teaspoon to 2 cups cold water steeped overnight. Half-1 cup thrice daily, before meals.

Aloe Vera. 1 teaspoon juice from leaf or gel, thrice daily.

Saw Palmetto. Marked effect on glandular tissue. Increases flesh rapidly and builds up strength. Tablets/capsules. Saw Palmetto, Iceland Moss. Kola nuts. Damiana. Echinacea. Garlic, Ginseng, Kelp, Sarsaparilla.

Powders. (1) Equal parts: Saw Palmetto, Damiana, Kola. OR:– (2) equal parts: Oats (Avena sat) 2; Gentian 1; Dandelion 1. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily.

Tinctures. Formula. Equal parts: Ginseng, Chiretta, Kola. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons in water thrice daily before meals.

Practitioner. (1) Tincture Peruvian bark BPC (1949). 15-30 drops in water thrice daily. (2) Dec Jam Sarsae Co Conc BPC. 1 teaspoon in water before meals thrice daily.

To promote cell regeneration. Nasturtium flowers, Horse-radish, Watercress, Garden Cress. (A. Vogel) Diet. High protein.

Supplementation: Superoxide dismutase. All the vitamins – multivitamin tablet or capsule. Zinc. ... cachexia

Mineral. Combines with protein to give structural solidarity to bones and flesh. Given with benefit for all bone problems, delayed union after injury, brittleness in the elderly, delayed dentition and weakness in rapidly growing children. Cataracts. Rickets in children; osteomalacia in adults.

Other deficiencies. Muscle cramps, spasms, tremors, nervousness, insomnia, joint pains.

Body effects. Healthy teeth and bones, blood clotting, nerve and muscle resilience.

Calcium helps reduce risk of fracture particularly in menopausal women who may increase intake to 1500mg daily. Calcium citrate malate is regarded as more effective than calcium carbonate. Calcium and Magnesium are essentials.

Sources. Dairy products, fish, sardines, salmon, watercress, hard drinking water, spinach. Dried skimmed milk may supply up to 60 per cent of the recommended daily amount.

Herbs. Chamomile, Clivers, Dandelion, Horsetail, Coltsfoot, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Plantain, Scarlet Pimpernel, Silverweed, Shepherd’s Purse, Toadflax. Taken as teas, powders, tablets or capsules.

Herbal combination to increase intake. Comfrey 3, Horsetail 6, Kelp 1, Lobelia 1, Marshmallow root 2, Oats 4, Parsley root 1. Tea: 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes; 1 cup morning and evening.

Calcium tablet supplements should first be pulverised before ingestion and taken in honey, bread bolus, or other suitable vehicle. Vitamin D assists absorption – 400-800 international units daily. ... calcium

Trematoda. Parasitic flatworms: (Fasciola hepatica) occurs mostly in sheep and in the freshwater snail. Larval forms of the latter encyst on water plants, commonly Watercress. On invasion into the human body, settles in the liver and bile duct.

Liquid Extract Butternut. 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol BHP (1983), dose: 2-6ml, thrice daily.

Butternut. Powder, with few grains Cayenne. 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) thrice daily. Wormwood tea. 1-2 teaspoons to cup cold water steeped overnight. Consume on rising.

Molasses. Half a teaspoon Wormseed powder in a little molasses, night and morning, for 3 days, followed by laxative. For desperate cases.

Dandelion and Burdock, traditional drink. Freely. Diet. Strong Dandelion coffee. ... flukes

Any obstruction to the free flow of bile causes stagnation within the gallbladder. Deposits of bile pigments form (bile sand). Under chemical change, these small masses become encrusted with cholesterol and converted into gall-stones. Common in overweight middle-aged women, “fair, fat and forty”. Fifteen per cent of the world’s population are affected. Pain may be mistaken for heart disorder.

Stones are of two main types: cholesterol and bile pigment. Cholesterol stones are composed of about 70 per cent cholesterol. Bile pigment stones are brittle and hard and brown or black. Stones cause gall duct obstruction, inflammation of the gall bladder and biliary colic.

Biliary colic can be one of the most excruciatingly painful conditions known.

Symptoms: extreme tenderness in upper right abdomen, dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, sweating, thirst, constipation. Prolonged obstruction leads to jaundice. Pain should be evaluated by a competent authority: doctor or hospital. Large stones will require surgery.

Alternatives. Combinations should include a remedy for increasing the flow of bile (cholagogue); to disperse wind (carminative); and for painful spasm.

BHP (1983) – Barberry, Greater Celandine, Balmony, Wahoo, Boldo, Chiretta, Dandelion.

Indicated: Cholagogues, Bitters to meet reduced secretion of bile. To prevent infection – Echinacea. Preventative measure for those with tendency to form stone – 2 Blue Flag root tablets/capsules, or half a teaspoon Glauber salts in morning tea, or 420mg Silymarin (Milk Thistle), daily.

Teas. Boldo, Black Horehound, Horsetail, Parsley Piert, Milk Thistle, Strawberry leaves, Wood Betony. Dr Hooper’s case: “An Indian Army officer suffered much from gall-stones and was advised to take Dandelion tea every day. Soon the symptoms left him and he remained free from them for over 20 years.” (John Clarke, MD)

Decoction. 1oz each: Milk Thistle, Centuary, Dandelion root, in 3 pints water. Bring to boil. Simmer down to 2 pints. Strain. One cup 3 times daily an hour before meals.

Tablets/capsules. Cramp bark (acute spasm). Wild Yam (spasmolytic and bile liquifier).

Powders. Equal parts: Cramp bark, Wahoo, Dandelion. Dose: 750mg (three 00 capsules or half a teaspoon) every 2 hours for acute cases.

Study. Silymarin 420mg daily on patients with a history of gall-stones. Results showed reduced biliary cholesterol concentrations and considerably reduced bile saturation index. (Nassuato, G. et al, Journal of Hepatology 1991, 12)

Captain Frank Roberts. Advises Olive oil and Lemon treatment (see below) followed by his prescription: Liquid Extract Fringe Tree 1oz (30ml); Liquid Extract Wahoo 1oz; Liquid Extract Kava- Kava 1oz; Liquid Extract Black root 1oz; Honey 2oz. Dose: teaspoon after meals – minimum 3 meals daily – in wineglass tepid water.

Liquid Extract Barberry: 20-60 drops in water every 2 hours.

Finlay Ellingwood MD. Liquid Extract Fringe Tree bark 10ml; Liquid Extract Greater Celandine 10ml; Tincture Gelsemium 5ml. Dose: 10 drops in water half hourly for acute cases.

Alfred Vogel. Suggests Madder root, Clivers and Knotgrass have solvent properties.

Juices believed to have solvent properties: Celery, Parsley, Beet, Carrot, Radish, Lemon, Watercress, Tomato.

Olive oil and Lemon treatment. Set aside a day for the operation. Take breakfast. No meals for the rest of the day. About 6pm commence by drinking 1 or 2 ounces of the oil. Follow with half-1 cup fresh Lemon juice direct from the fruit in a little warm water. Dilute no more than necessary. Alternate drinks of Olive oil and Lemon juice throughout the evening until one pint or more Olive oil, and juice of 8-9 Lemons been consumed. Drink at intervals of 10 minutes to half an hour. Following 3 days pass stools into a chamber and wash well in search for stones and ‘bile sand’.

Practitioner. For spasm on passing stone: Tincture Belladonna: 20 drops in 100ml water: 1 teaspoon hourly.

Compresses: hot wet. Castor oil packs, or hot water packs over painful area.

Enema. Strong Catmint tea – 2 pints.

Diet. Commence with 3 day juice-fast: no solid food. Turmeric used at table as a condiment. Avoid cheese, sugar. Vegetarian diet. Studies show those who eat meat are twice as likely to develop stone. Less saturated fat and more fibre. Vegetable margarine instead of butter. Dandelion coffee or juices in place of caffeine beverages. High vegetable protein; high carbohydrate; high fibre. Oats. Artichokes, honey, molasses, unrefined cereals. Vegetable oil in cooking.

Supplements. Daily. Vitamin C, 2-3g. Vitamin E, 500iu. Choline 1g.

Note: Subjects with a sensitive skin who enjoyed sunbathing are at a raised risk of having gallstones. (Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health)

Gall-stones may form if weight is lost rapidly when on a low calorie diet. ... gall-stones

Mineral. Essential for production of haemoglobin (see entry). Haemoglobin absorbs oxygen from the lungs from which it is borne throughout the body by the red blood cells. Iron is a component of enzymes that play a vital role in oxidation of food and release of energy. As the metal is not produced in the body it has to be obtained from external sources. Iron is also conserved by the body following breakdown of old red blood corpuscles. RDA 10mg (men), 12mg (women), 13mg (pregnant women), 15mg (nursing mothers).

Deficiency. Iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common deficiency disease in the world. Children require adequate level for cell growth and healthy development. Senior citizens may have inability to absorb. Sportspeople carefully watch their iron levels.

Studies reveal that iron absorption is reduced by coffee consumption. A single cup of coffee can effect a reduction of 30 per cent when consumed at the same time iron or iron containing foods are taken. (American Journal of Clinical Medicine, 1983)

Sources. Red meat, liver, kidney, almonds, dried fruits (especially figs), All Bran, spinach, watercress. Herbs. All seaweeds. Burdock, Devil’s Claw, Couch Grass root, Meadowsweet, Mullein, Rest Harrow, Nettles, Toadflax, Wild Strawberry leaves, Yellow Dock, Gotu Kola, Parsley, Silverweed.

Floradix Herbal Iron Extract: absorbable iron in a yeast extract dietary supplement. Contents include Nettles, Fennel, Angelica root, Horsetail, Spinach, Yarrow, etc. ... iron

Important mineral. Magnesium limestone (dolomite rock). Essential for use of Vitamins B1 and B6, a deficiency of which affects the nervous system. Vasodilator. Platelet inhibitor.

Deficiency. May lead to disorders of arteries or kidneys; brittle bones, pre-menstrual tension, heart disease, muscle cramps, hypoglycaemia, insomnia, palpitation, tremor of hands or lower limbs; anorexia, anxiety, depression, tiredness, dizziness, confusion. Studies reveal that two-thirds of patients with peripheral vascular disease are magnesium-deficient. Absorption is blocked by the contraceptive pill, a high milk or high fat intake. Chronic fatigue syndrome.

Heart attack. “An imbalance in the Magnesium/Calcium ratio may contribute to myocardial infarction.” (Dr H.J. Holtmeier, University of Freiburg, Germany)

Body effects. Co-ordination of nerves and muscles. Healthy teeth and bones. This metal activates more enzymes in the body than any other mineral. Heart patients on Digoxin have less palpitation when magnesium level is normal.

Sources. Most foods. Meat, milk, eggs, seafood, nuts (peanuts etc), brown rice, wheatbran, cocoa, Soya beans and flour, almonds, walnuts, maize, oats.

Fruits: apples, avocado, bananas, black grapes, seeds.

Herbs: Bladderwrack, Black Willow bark, Broom, Carrot leaves, Devil’s Bit, Dulse, Dandelion, Gotu Kola, Kale, Kelp, Meadowsweet, Mistletoe, Mullein, Okra, Parsley, Peppermint, Primrose flowers, Rest Harrow, Silverweed, Skunk Cabbage, Toadflax, Walnut leaves, Watercress, Wintergreen. Teas made from any of this list can be effective for low-grade magnesium deficiency.

RDA 300mg: 450mg (pregnant women and nursing mothers). ... magnesium

Concerns chemical changes and physical processes whereby (1) energy is created for the body’s vital activities and (2) old cells are replaced by new ones. Metabolism is dependent upon a chemical interaction promoted by enzymes. A wide range of illness may follow metabolic disturbance, from debility to hyperactivity. Requires attention to the liver, digestive organs, and endocrine glands.

To stimulate: Boldo, Barberry, Dandelion, Devil’s Claw, Artichoke, Knotgrass, Garlic, Gentian, Bee pollen, Ginseng, Kelp, Oats, Peppermint, Prickly Ash, Wild Yam.

Tea: combine equal parts: Agrimony, Dandelion root, Betony. 1 heaped teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Thrice daily.

Formula. Dandelion 1; Devil’s Claw half; Ginseng half; Liquorice 1. Powders: quarter of a teaspoon. Liquid extracts: 30-60 drops. Tinctures: 1-2 teaspoons. In water, honey or suitable vehicle, thrice daily. Diet. See: DIET – GENERAL. Watercress.

Vitamins: B-complex, B6, B12. Folic acid. C. D.

Minerals: Iron, Manganese, Zinc. ... metabolism