Aches and pains

If you travel to areas where no osteopaths or chiropractors are to be found, you can buy or hire a small electronic device which will get rid of many simple neck, back or muscle pains. Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) reduces or eliminates pains by bombarding nerve endings with weak, adjustable, high frequency electrical stimuli through adhesive electrodes placed on the skin. These appear to be received by the brain in place of the pain stimuli (Lewith GT, Horn S, Drug Free Pain Relief, Wellingborough, Northants: Thorsons, 1987: 18, 25, 56-61).

Appendicism

Although acute appendicitis is nearly always a surgical condition, appendicism is a symptomatic discomfort in the region of the appendix. The routine emergency treatment for this is Iris tenax 2 every two hours.

Bruising

Apply Arnica montana tincture or oil to the area if the skin is unbroken. If the skin is broken, use a lotion of Hamamelis macrophylla (20 drops of tincture to 50 ml of distilled water). Also, take Arnica montana 3CH internally.

If you’ve bruised the bones, apply a lotion of Ruta graveolens (20 drops to 50 ml of distilled water) and take Ruta graveolens 3CH internally. For bruising of nerve rich areas like fingers, toes or spine, make up a lotion of equal parts of Hypericum perforatum tincture, alcohol fortis (95 per cent v/v alcohol) and distilled water, and rub it onto the injured area (if the spine) three times daily, or apply it onto cottonwool, then daub (if the extremities).

Burns and scalds (first degree)

Add 12 drops of Urtica urens to 50 ml of distilled water, or make up a lotion of Hamamelis macrophylla (20 drops to 50 ml of distilled water), then saturate a sterile gauze or dressing and place it over the burn. Moisten it again (in place) whenever it begins to dry out.

If you don’t have this tincture to hand and you’re out in the countryside, a lotion made by pouring boiling water onto freshly picked stinging nettles will do as well. Blisters should not be opened or drained.

Another possibility is to apply Echinacea angustifolia as a cleansing wash and then as a moist dressing.

Cold injuries and frostbite

Lie on your back. Initially, very gently rub the affected area with snow (forceful massage or compression is harm ful) and follow this by applying some room temperature (not icy) water to warm up slowly. This prevents your body from making vascular changes too suddenly, resulting in thickening of the blood. Only after you’ve taken this step should you move on to rapid rewarming using moist heat, keeping the water temperature like that of bath water (between 31-37 degrees C).

After rewarming, paint the affected part with Benzoin (Lindera). If frostbite occurs in the feet and hosiery is stuck to the affected limb, rub olive oil over the Benzoin tincture. The best next step is simply to expose the body part to air at room temperature (21-24 degrees C). Avoid using the affected part until the extent of any damage has been determined by a health professional.

Dysentery (with fever)

Stay in bed, keep warm and drink lots of water or fennel tea. If the condition is acute, take five to ten drops of Cuphea viscosissima; for a chronic condition, take ten drops of Vaccinum myrtillus every eight hours. As soon as you can, have yourself checked out for parasitic intestinal infection.

Electric shock

(including lightning stroke)

Make sure the current is switched off. If this is impossible, free the person from the source of the current while using an insulating material such as heavy duty insulating gloves, something made of wood or rubber, or even a folded newspaper. You can even use the victim’s clothing, so long as it is absolutely dry and you don’t touch his skin. If his breathing is failing or has stopped, begin resuscitation immediately.

Phosphorus 6CH is the homoeopathic drug of choice for the effects of lightning and electric shock.

Haemorrhage

The patient should be reassured and put to bed, avoiding any excitement and all stimulants. For external haemorrhages, apply pressure (20 minutes) and sterile cellulose alginate, a seaweed compound which is absorbed without causing local irritation (available from a pharmacy). Give Acalypha indica 6CH (or Achillea millefolium 3CH) and also possibly menadione (vitamin K3).

Hiccoughs

(persistent, severe and rapid)

The best homoeopathic remedy for hiccoughs that won’t go away is 60 drops of Scutellaria lateriflora 3DH repeated every two hours, or a single dose of Moschus moschiferus lCH. Stramonium 6CH (Datura) is another possibility. If none of the above is to hand, one foolproof method is rebreathing using a paper bag. Another is to have the victim drink a glass of water while using the fingers to press down just in front of the tragus, the little flap of cartilage at the opening of the ear, on both sides of the head.

High blood pressure

To help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, take Spartium scoparium lCH three times a day. For dangerously elevated blood pressure, try to find a qualified acupuncturist, as classical acupuncture procedures are known to reduce high blood pressure speedily.

Insect bites or stings

Apply tincture of Ledum palustre to the sting. If you don’t have it on hand, you’ll get equally quick results from tincture or cream of Arnica montana, Calendula officinalis or Urtica urens.

Supplement this by taking two 15 drop doses of Grindelia robusta 10 minutes apart. For extremely red inflammation with excessive sensibility to touch or pain, gently massage the area and take a single dose of Cantharis vesicator 30CH. For a sting on the tongue or in the mouth, take one tablespoonful (15 ml) of Calendula officinalis tincture, pour it into the mouth and keep it there for as long as possible. The mother tincture of Pyrethrum parthenium applied to the skin will relieve the discomfort and hot sensations produced by stings or bites. An added advantage is that it repels insects.

Jellyfish sting

Rub on Acidum aceticum 1x to any affected areas.

Nausea and vomiting

Where no form of food is tolerated, the remedy of choice is 10 drops of Amygdalus persica or ucurbita pepo, or Zingiber officinale lx as an alternative. As soon as you can, investigate the possibility of parasitic infection if pregnancy or a hangover is not the obvious cause.

Septic conditions

Take 20 drops of Echinacea angustifolia in bottled or mineral water every two hours. The tincture can also be used locally as a cleansing and antiseptic wash.

Sunstroke or heatstroke

Take Glonoinum 6CH every two hours until you get relief from the bursting, pulsating headache, which cannot bear motion. Also apply a solution of Calcarea chlorinata (one part to ten of

distilled water) to any sunburnt skin.

If you don’t have that remedy to hand, a mixture of equal parts of freshly squeezed lemon juice and bottled or mineral water applied twice a day will minimize the ill effects. Stay in a cool, shady room. In severe cases, use whatever means are available to lower temperature, such as tepid sponging and constant vigorous massage of the extremities to promote circulation of the blood, which will cool the affected areas. The goal is to reduce rectal temperature (measured by a rectal thermometer) to 39 degrees C.

Wounds

For lacerated wounds, apply a lotion of Calendula officinalis (20 drops to 50 ml of distilled water) locally. Also, take Calendula officinalis 3CH internally every two hours.

For incised wounds, apply a lotion of Hypericum perforatum (20 drops to 50 ml of distilled water) and take Hypericum perforatum 3CH internally every hour.

Finally, for puncture wounds, apply a lotion of Ledum palustre (20 drops to 50 ml of distilled water) locally and take Ledum palustre 6CH internally every hour.

!AHarald Gaier

Harald Gaier is a registered osteopath, naturopath and homoeopath.

(Copyright is retained by the author.)

Although it’s a very common therapy, it’s also a very dangerous one, as the case notes from the burns unit of one Dublin hospital can testify.

They had to treat seven serious cases of scalding following steam inhalation over a six-month period in 2002. Six children had facial burns after direct contact with the water or hot water, and two children had burns caused by the bowl tipping over onto their chest or lap.

Four of these children will have permanent scarring.

One mother said her family doctor had recommended the treatment. So what’s a safer approach? Sit in the bathroom with a very hot shower running, put your child on your lap, and read him a story.

(Source: British Medical Journal, 2004; 328: 757).

Since around 2800BC, the needle like branches of a plant found in China called Ma-Huang have been used successfully there against asthma of light to medium severity. In the 16th century AD the physician pharmacologist Li Shih-chen listed it as an asthma treatment in his massive reference work, which is still seen as the authoritative reference for oriental herbal medicine.Ma-Huang, a member of the Gnetales family, resembles a horsetail. It is closely related to the Welwitschia mirabilis of South Africa. Ephedra helvetica, another relation, is used by herbalists in Switzerland, Spain, Italy and France. Another botanical relative is Ephedra distachya, the joint pine of Persia and India which quickly relieves bronchial spasm (RF Weiss, Herbal Medicine, AB Arcanum, Gothenburg, 1988).

In 1926, the drug company Merck produced a synthetic version of Ephedra, the alkaloid ephedrine. This, like the herbal remedy, has been widely used and both have been critically investigated over the years (Br J Clin Pharmacol, 1976, 3). However, the natural version has proved to have several advantages over the man made product: it is better tolerated by the patient, causing fewer heart problems like palpitations and hypertension.

Interestingly, if the Ma-Huang root is included in the preparation made from this plant’s branches, heart problems are reduced. Proprietary asthma drugs made from synthetic ephedrine, Benylin and Sudafed, are well known for their strong stimulant effect on the heart.

Khellah a member of the carrot family which grows wild in Egypt and countries of the eastern Mediterranean can either prevent asthma attacks or significantly reduce their frequency and severity (GV Anrep and others, J Pharm Pharmacol, 149, 3; and W Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, vol 1, Pharmaceutical Press, London 1958). Khellah is rapidly absorbed if taken by mouth, so injections are not needed. Although it is usually regarded as a preventative rather than therapeutic measure, its antispasmodic action lasts for around 6.5 hours, longer than that of modern asthma drugs. Toxicity is extremely low and there are practically no side effects, even when taken over a long period (RF Weiss, reference as above).

The latest orthodox drug derivative of Khellah is disodium chromoglycate (DSCG), marketed by Fisons as Intal. It is intended to stave off an asthma attack. In some patients it may cause a cough, throat irritation and bronchospasm (MIMS, July 1992).

Myrrh on the other hand, is a useful treatment, taken along with other asthma relieving drugs where the asthma is caused by catarrhal infection of the respiratory tract and bronchioles (R W Davey and others, Comp Med Res, Jan 1990). It has been shown to be effective against 20 strains of microbial organisms, including those that are regarded by orthodox medicine as multi drug resistant.

Harald Gaier is a registered naturopath, osteopath and homoeopath.

The virus is carried in body fluids such as semen, vaginal secretions, breast milk and blood (including menstrual blood). More than half of the women in the U.S. who get AIDS do so through heterosexual sex. In fact, women in the U.S. are 10 times more likely to get AIDS from men than vice versa. This may be because semen contains more of the virus than does vaginal fluid. Semen can also remain in the vagina for days which raises the risk for contracting the virus. Certain activities are likely to promote contracting the AIDS virus.
High-risk activities include:

• Unprotected* anal, oral and/or vaginal sex except in a monogamous relationship in which neither partner is infected with HIV. Particularly high risk situations are having sex:
  
  
  
  • When drunk or high.
    
  • With multiple or casual sex partners.
    
  • With a partner who has had multiple or casual sex partners.
    
  • With a partner who has used drugs by injection or is bisexual.
    
  • When you or your partner has signs and symptoms of a genital tract infection.
    
  • Sharing needles and/or “the works” when injecting any kind of drugs.
    
  • Pregnancy and delivery if the mother is infected with HIV. This can put the child at risk.
    
  • Having had blood transfusions, especially before 1985, unless tested negative for HIV.
    
  
  

* Unprotected means without using latex condoms alone or with other latex or polyurethane barriers. When used correctly, every time and for every sex act these provide protection from HIV. Though not 100% effective, they will reduce the risk. Male condoms with a spermicidal gel is preferred. The Reality female condom also offers protection, especially when used with a male condom.

There is some concern about the risk of getting AIDS from an infected doctor, dentist or patient. There are almost no cases of health professionals passing HIV to a patient. Patient to health professional transmission has been more noted. Measures are being proposed and required by medical and dental associations to decrease these possible risks, even though they are extremely low.

Blood screening tests are also done on donated blood which makes it highly unlikely that you’d get AIDS from current blood transfusions. You cannot get AIDS from:

• Donating blood.
  
• Casual contact such as touching, holding hands or hugging.
  
• A cough, sneeze, tears or sweat.
  
• An animal or insect bite.
  
• A toilet seat.
  
• Using a hot tub or swimming.
  

Screening tests for AIDS are available through doctors’ offices, clinics and health departments. A small sample of your blood is tested for antibodies to the HIV virus. If these antibodies are present, you test positive for and are considered infected with HIV. It could take as long as six months from exposure to the virus for these antibodies to show up. The most common reason for a false negative test is when a person gets tested before HIV antibodies have formed. If you test positive for HIV, a second type of blood test is done to confirm it. HIV/AIDS symptoms may not show up for as long as eight to eleven years after a person is infected with the virus.

Symptoms of HIV/AIDS in women can differ from those in men. These may include:

• Chronic vaginal yeast infections. (See page 66).
  
• Abnormal pap smear.
  
• Cervical cancer. (See page 13).
  
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). (See page 50).
  

Some sexually transmitted diseases such as the human papilloma virus (HPV) and certain genital warts. [Note: The above conditions can be present without HIV. The only way to confirm the presence of HIV is to be tested.]

Symptoms that may come before full-blown AIDS:

• Fatigue.
  
• Loss of appetite.
  
• Chronic diarrhea.
  
• Weight loss.
  
• Persistent dry cough.
  
• Fever.
  
• Night sweats.
  
• Swollen lymph nodes.
  

Persons with full blown AIDS fall prey to many diseases such as skin infections, fungal infections, tuberculosis, pneumonia and cancer. These “opportunistic” infections are what lead to death in an AIDS victim, not the AIDS virus itself. When the virus invades the brain cells, it leads to forgetfulness, impaired speech, trembling and seizures.

Treatment

At present, there is no cure for AIDS. A person infected with AIDS has it for life.
Current treatment for AIDS include:

• The drugs AZT, DDI and DDC. These are approved for use in the United States to treat AIDS. They slow the virus, but do not destroy it. They may delay the onset and slow the progress of AIDS, but may have only short term effects.
  
• Taking measures to reduce the risk of getting infections and diseases. Get adequate rest, proper nutrition and take vitamin supplements as suggested by your doctor.
  
• Emotional Support.
  
• Treating the “opportunistic” infections that occur, for example:
  
• Antibiotics such as Bactrim or Septra for pneumonia.
  
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer, such as lymphoma or Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a rare form of skin cancer which is identified by purplish sores on the skin.
  
• Radiation therapy and surgery have been used in the treatment of some patients.
  

AIDS is under intensive study and research. Better forms of treatment and a vaccine are being researched worldwide. A single vaccine to protect against AIDS is not very likely, though, because the HIV virus quickly creates new strains of the virus.

Have you tested positive for HIV?
Do you have: A sexually transmitted disease (STD)? A persistent yeast infections in the mouth (thrush) or vagina?
Have you been told that a present or past sexual partner with whom you have had sexual relations without using condoms has AIDS or the AIDS virus?
Do you engage in high risk activities for getting infected with HIV? either; Sex without latex condoms or with multiple partners or with a partner who is a drug user and/or has had multiple partners, and/or when drinking alcohol except in a monogamous relationship in which neither you or your sex partner are HIV positive? or; Sharing needles and/or “the works” when injecting any kind of drug?

Someday, a cure for AIDS may exist. For now, prevention is the only protection. Take these steps to avoid contracting the AIDS virus:

• Unless you are in a monogamous relationship in which you and your partner are HIV free, use latex condoms and/or Reality female condoms during sexual intercourse, treated with or along with a spermicide containing Nonoxynol-9. Studies suggest this spermicide may inactivate the AIDS virus. (You may need to avoid spermicide if it causes irritation).
  
• Don’t have sex with people who are at high risk for contracting AIDS. These have been noted to be:
  
  
  
  • Homosexual or bisexual men especially with multiple sex partners.
    
  • Persons who use illegal intravenous drugs.
    
  • Heterosexual partners of persons infected or exposed to HIV.
    
  • Persons who have had multiple blood transfusions, especially before 1985, unless tested negative for HIV.
    
  • Persons who have sex with more than one partner.
    
  
  
• Ask specific questions about your partner’s sexual past, i.e., have they had many partners or unprotected (no condom) sex? Do not be afraid to ask if they have been tested for HIV and if the results were positive or negative. Be aware, though, that the response may not be an honest one. You need to protect yourself! Take charge. Get tested for HIV. Ask your partner to get tested, too. Use prevention measures or avoid sex until you get tested for HIV if you have been exposed to it.
  
• Don’t have sex with anyone who you know or suspect has had multiple partners. If you’ve had sex with someone you suspect is HIV positive, see your doctor.
  
• Don’t share needles and/or “the works” with anyone. This includes not only illegal drugs such as heroin, but steroids, insulin, etc.
  
• Don’t share personal items that have blood on them such as razors.
  
• Plan ahead for safe sex.
  
• Decide what you’ll say and be willing to do ahead of time with a potential sex partner.
  
• Keep a supply of condoms handy, i.e., in your purse, by the bed, in your pocket, etc. Know the correct way to use them.
• Putting the condom on your partner can be a part of foreplay.
  
• Don’t have sex while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  
• Avoid sex if either partner has signs and symptoms of a genital tract infection.
  

Pulmonary/Tonic

– Stimulating Expectorant

• alkaloid containing
  
• saponin containing
  
• volatile oil containing

– ‘Relaxing’ expectorant

• demulcent
  
• anti-inflammatory (often also anti-microbial)
  
  – usually with volatile oil
  
• anti-spasmodic – alkaloid containing
  
  – volatile oil containing

The stimulating expectorants can act in different ways to produce the same effect, and it is not always clear how a specific remedy is working, but current ideas suggest the following processes:

• irritation of the bronchioles to stimulate the expulsion of any material present.
  
• liquefaction of viscid sputum so that it can be cleared by coughing. The sputum is moved upwards from the lungs by the fine hairs of the ciliated epithelium lining the bronchiole tubes. Reducing the viscosity through expectorants facilitates this transport.

Most stimulating expectorants contain alkaloids, saponins or volatile oils. However not all chemicals in these groups, or plants with these constituents have this activity.



The relaxing expectorants would seem to act also by reflex but here it is to soothe bronchial spasm and loosen mucous secretions. This loosening is occasioned by producing a thinner mucous, lifting the stickier stuff up from below. This makes them useful in dry, irritating coughs. You will notice that this action is similar in some respects to the demulcents, and both actions owe a lot to their content of mucilage and occasionally volatile oils.



The pharmacopeias abound in plant remedies and most of the herbs still in the British and American official lists are expectorants, anti-tussive or decongestants. However, the allopathic focus on `effect’ has meant the dropping of the tonic remedies. Pulmonaries provide Phytotherapy with the possibility of strengthening both tissue and function in addition to addressing the symptoms of respiratory disease.

]]> 30386 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/bugleweed-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bugleweed-2 Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/bugleweed-2/ Lycopus europaeus

Labiatae

Names: Sweet Bugle, Water Bugle, Gypsywort.

Habitat: Eastern USA- L. virginicus. Europe-L. europaeus.

Collection: It should be collected just before the buds open.

Part Used: Aerial parts.

Constituents:

• Phenolic acid derivatives; caffeic, rosmarinic, chlorogenic and
  ellagic acids.
  
• Pimaric acid methyl ester .
  

Actions: Diuretic, peripheral vasoconstrictor, astringent, nervine, anti-tussive.

Indications: Bugleweed is a specific for over-active thyroid glands, especially where the symptoms include tightness of breathing, palpitation and shaking. It may safely be used where palpitations occur that are of nervousorigin. Bugleweed will aid the weak heart where there is associated build-up
of water in the body. As a sedative cough reliever it will ease irritating coughs, especially when they are of nervous origin.

King’s Dispensatory: “Lycopus fills an important place in Eclectic therapeutics. Its action is chiefly exhibited on the vascular structures and the sympathetic nervous system. It is a certain sedative, mildnarcotic, subastringent and tonic. Its sedative action is most pronounced and most frequently indicated where
the vascular action is tumultuous, the velocity of the pulse rapid, with evident want of cardiac power. It is for this purpose that it is principally employed in advanced stages of acute disease with great debility, and in chronic disease with frequent pulse. It improves the circulation and its good influence is extended to all the parts under the control of the vegetative system of nerves. As a sedative, Prof. Scudder classes it with aconite and veratrum.
It acts somewhat like digitalis inreducing the velocity of the pulse, but is devoid of the dangerous effects resulting from the use of that drug, and hence has proved useful in some cardiac affection. It controls excessive vascular excitement, general irritability and diminishes exalted organic action. Upon the stomach its action is kindly, improving the appetite and serving as a mild gastric tonic. Normal secretion is established by it and blood-making
and nutrition are improve.

Ellingwood describes its Specific Symptomology thus – “In diseases ofthe heart, either functional or organic, marked by irritability and irregularity of the organ, dyspnoea, feeling of oppression in the cardiac region, its administration is followed by gratifying results. Hypertrophy and dilatation have been known to undergo marked diminution in consequence of its administration. ” Therapeutic uses – “It possesses
tonic, sedative, astringent and narcotic properties and has been successfully used in incipient phthisis, haemoptysis, etc. It act like digitalis in reducing the velocity of the pulse, but has no cumulative effects. In pericarditis and endocarditis its sedativeaction lessens the frequency of the pulse, irritability and its attendant inflammation, in a manner equaled by no other remedy. Exopthalmic goitre. In diseases of the respiratory apparatus lycopus has
been found to be very useful. Haemoptysis, associated with rapid and tumultuous heart’s action, yields readily to its influence, as does hemorrhage from any part. Hale lauds lycopus highly for its efficiency when used in cases of incipient phthisis and in chronic inflammatory diseases of the lungs. by regulating the heart’s action and equalizing the circulation in the lungs it mitigates or arrests the local inflammation.

Combinations:
Bugleweed may be used with nervines such as Skullcap or Valerian.

Preparations & Dosage: Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoonful of the dried herb and let infuse for 10-15 minutes. This shouldbe drunk three times a day.

Tincture: take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

---

Citations from the Medline database for the genus Lycopus

Bugleweed

Wagner H Horhammer L Frank U

[Lithospermic acid, the antihormonally active principle of Lycopus europaeusL. and Symphytum officinale. 3. Ingredients of medicinal plants with hormonal and antihormonal-like effect]

Arzneimittelforschung (1970 May) 20(5):705-13

Winterhoff H Gumbinger HG Sourgens H

On the antigonadotropic activity of Lithospermum and Lycopus species and some of
their phenolic constituents.

Planta Med (1988 Apr) 54(2):101-6

]]> 30520 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/angelica-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=angelica-3 Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/angelica-3/ Angelica archangelica

Umbelliferae

Names : European angelica.

Collection : The root is collected in the autumn of its first year. If it is very thick it can be cut longitudinally to speed its drying. The leaves should be collected in June.

Part Used : Roots and leaves are used medicinally, the stems and seeds are used in confectionery.

Constituents :

• Volatile oils obtained mainly from the root and seeds, have a similar composition consisting of a range of terpenes, mainly[[beta]]-phellandrene, with [[beta]]-bisabolene,
  
  [[beta]]-caryophyllene, [[alpha]]-phellandrene, [[alpha]]- and [[beta]]-pinene, limonene, linalool, borneol, acetaldehyde, menthadienes and nitromenthadienes.

• Macrocyclic lactones including tridecanolide, l2-methyl tridecanolide, pentadecanolide.

• Phthalates such as hexamethylphthalate.

• Coumarins, especially furocoumarin glycosides such as marmesin and apterin.

• Angelicin and byakangelicin derivatives, osthol, umbelliferone, psoralen, bergapten, imperatoren, xanthotoxol, xanthotoxin, oxypeucedanin and more.

• Misc. sugars, plant acids, flavonoids and sterols.
  

Actions : Astringent, tonic, diuretic, vulnerary, cholagogue, anti-inflammatory.

Indications : This herb is a useful expectorant for coughs, bronchitis and pleurisy, especially when they are accompanied byfever, colds or influenza. The leaf can be used as a compress in inflammations of the chest. It content of carminative essential oil explains its use easing intestinal colic and flatulence. As a digestive agent it stimulates appetite and may be used in anorexianervosa. It has been shown to help ease rheumatic inflammations. Incystitis it acts as a urinary antiseptic. Angelica is used frequently as a flavoring; in liqueurs such as chartreuse and benedictine, in gin and vermouth; the leaves as a garnish or in salads; and the candied stalks in cakes and pudding.

Combinations : For bronchial problems it combines well with Coltsfoot and White Horehound; for indigestion, flatulence and loss of appetite with Chamomile. In Musculo-skeletal problems it may be used with herbs such as Black Cohosh, Willow Bark and Bogbean.

Preparations & Dosage : Decoction: put a teaspoonful of the cut root in a cup of water, bring it to the boil and simmer for two minutes. Take it off the heat and let it stand for l5 minutes. Take one cup three times a day. Tincture: Take 2-5 ml of the tincture three times a day.

---

Citations from the Medline database for the genus Angelica

Angelica, Dong QuoiFeng Y Lian NJ Jia ZL [Clinical observations on the treatment of sudden deafness with concentrated Angelica injection]

Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1986 Sep;6(9):536-7, 516 ((Published in Chinese))Guo TL Zhou XW [Clinical observations on the treatment of the gestational hypertension syndrome with Angelica and Paeonia powder]

Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1986 Dec;6(12):714-6, 707 ((Published in Chinese))Harada M Suzuki M Ozaki Y Effect of Japanese Angelica root and peony root on uterine contraction inthe rabbit in situ.

J Pharmacobiodyn 1984 May;7(5):304-11He ZP Wang DZ Shi LY Wang ZQ Treating amenorrhea in vital energy-deficient patients with angelica sinensis-astragalus membranaceus menstruation-regulating decoction.

J Tradit Chin Med 1986 Sep;6(3):187-90

Hikino H:

Recent research on Oriental medicinal plants.

Economic Medical Plant Research 1:53-85, 1985 Kimura Y Ohminami H Arichi H Okuda H Baba K Kozawa M Arichi S Effects of various coumarins from roots of Angelica dahurica on actions of adrenaline, ACTH and insulin in fat cells.

Planta Med 1982 Jul;45(3):183-7Kimura Y Okuda H Effects of active compounds isolated from Angelica shikokiana on lipid metabolism in fat cells.

J Ethnopharmacol 1989 May;25(3):269-80Kimura Y Okuda H Baba K Kozawa M Arichi S Effects of an active substance isolated from the roots of Angelicashkiokiana on leukotriene and monohydroxyeicosatetreaenoic acid biosyntheses in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Planta Med 1987 Dec;53(6):521-5Ko FN Wu TS Liou MJ Huang TF Teng CM Inhibition of platelet thromboxane formation and phosphoinositidesbreakdown by osthole from Angelica pubescens.

Thromb Haemost 1989 Nov 24;62(3):996-9Kosuge T Yokota M Sugiyama K Yamamoto T Mure T Yamazawa H Studies on bioactive substances in crude drugs used for arthritic diseasesin traditional Chinese medicine. II. Isolation and identification of ananti-inflammatory and analgesic principle fromthe root of Angelica pubescens Maxim.

Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1985 Dec;33(12):5351-4Kumazawa Y Mizunoe K Otsuka Y Immunostimulating polysaccharide separated from hot water extract of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa (Yamato tohki).

Immunology 1982 Sep;47(1):75-83Kumazawa Y Nakatsuru Y Fujisawa H Nishimura C Mizunoe K Otsuka Y NomotoK Lymphocyte activation by a polysaccharide fraction separated from hot water extracts of Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa.

J Pharmacobiodyn 1985 Jun;8(6):417-24Mei QB Tao JY Cui B Advances in the pharmacological studies of radix Angelica sinensis (Oliv)Diels (Chinese Danggui).

Chin Med J (Engl) 1991 Sep;104(9):776-81Mei QB Tao JY Zhang HD Duan ZX Chen YZ [Effects of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides on hemopoietic stem cells inirradiated mice]

Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1988 May;9(3):279-82 ((Published in Chinese))Okuyama T Takata M Takayasu J Hasegawa T Tokuda H Nishino A Nishino HIwashima A Anti-tumor-promotion by principles obtained from Angelica keiskei.

Planta Med 1991 Jun;57(3):242-6Sung CP Baker AP Holden DA Smith WJ Chakrin LW Effect of extracts of Angelica polymorpha on reaginic antibody production.

J Nat Prod 1982 Jul-Aug;45(4):398-406Tanaka S Ikeshiro Y Tabata M Konoshima M Anti-nociceptive substances from the roots of Angelica acutiloba.

Arzneimittelforschung 1977;27(11):2039-45Tao JY Ruan YP Mei QB Liu S Tian QL Chen YZ Zhang HD Duan ZX [Studies on the antiasthmatic action of ligustilide of dang-gui, Angelicasinensis (Oliv.) Diels]

Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1984 Aug;19(8):561-5 ((Published in Chinese))Yan TY Hou AC Sun BT [Injection of Angelica sinensis in treating infantile pneumonia and its experimental study in rabbits]

Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1987 Mar;7(3):161-2, 133 ((Published inChinese))

Yoshiro K:

The physiological actions of tang-kuei and cnidium.

Bull Oriental Healing Arts Inst USA 10:269-78, 1985 Zhang YK Wang HY Wang SX [The effect of the Chinese medical herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Angelica sinensis on 3 kinds of experimental nephritis]

Chung Hua Nei Ko Tsa Chih 1986 Apr;25(4):222_5, 254 ((Published in Chinese))Zhou JZ [Various pharmacological actions of Angelica extracts]

Chung Yao Tung Pao 1985 Apr;10(4):39-41 (Published in Chinese)

]]> 30646 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/childhood-asthma/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=childhood-asthma Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/childhood-asthma/

A lot of children get asthma. Most children grow out of it after they are teenagers. Children under 4 years old hardly ever get asthma. These are all symptoms of asthma:

• Wheezing
  
• Tight feeling in the chest
  
• Chronic coughing
  
• Trouble breathing

Asthma symptoms come and go. An asthma “attack” can be big or small. Asthma can get worse when your child is upset or worried. But it’s not “in his or her head.” It’s a real physical problem. A doctor should treat your child if he or she has asthma. Asthma runs in families. Children who have hay fever or eczema often have asthma, too.

Asthma cuts down the air flow in the lungs. This makes it hard to breathe and can cause wheezing. (Note: Other things can cause wheezing, too. Something may be stuck in the throat, or there may be an infection. Always tell the doctor if your child is wheezing.

These things can help cause asthma attacks:

• Bronchitis or an infection in the throat and lungs
  
• Colds
  
• Breathing pollen from plants, mold, animal dander, dust, or smoke
  
• Eating some foods
  
• Taking some medicines
  
• Breathing cold air
  
• Exercising too hard
  
• Getting upset, angry, or “stressed out”

The right asthma treatment depends on how bad the attacks are. It’s hard to treat asthma with medicines you buy without a prescription. Your child’s doctor should keep track of how your child is doing. The doctor may prescribe one or more of these for your child’s asthma:

• Bronchodilators – Bronchodilators open up the airways in the body. They come either as a spray or as something you swallow.
  
• Steroids – Steroids help when you have allergies. An allergic reaction can bring on an asthma attack. Steroids work against the allergic reaction. They come either as a spray, or as pills you swallow.
  
• Cromolyn sodium – Your child can inhale Cromolyn sodium before an attack that is triggered by allergies or exercise. This medicine won’t work once the attack starts.
  
• Cromolyn sodium and steroids – They can work together to prevent attacks.
  
• Antibiotics – Your doctor will only give these to your child if the child has an infection.

Questions to Ask

Does your child have any of these problems? Blue color around the lips Has to sit up to breathe Can?t talk or make normal sounds Has very noisy, grunting sounds with breathing
Is your child wheezing a lot? Does your child?s chest feel tight? Is it hard for your child to breathe?
Does your child have a fever? Is your child coughing up anything green, yellow, or bloody?
Does your child?s asthma attack stay just as bad, no matter what you do for it?
Are your child?s asthma attacks coming more often or getting worse?
Has your child?s cough lasted more than 2 weeks?

Self Care Tips

Try these tips to help your child avoid asthma attacks:

• Have him or her drink a lot of water, juice, or soft drinks. (Ask your child’s doctor how much fluid your child should have each day.)
  
• Find out what triggers your child?s asthma, and get rid of things that bother your child at home, at school, and where they play.
  
• Keep things your child is allergic to out of his or her bedroom.
  
• Give your child a foam or cotton pillow, not a feather pillow.
  
• Cover your child’s mattress and pillow with a plastic cover. Wash mattress pads in hot water every week.
  
• Don?t hang sheets and blankets outside to dry. Pollen can get on them.
  
• Put throw rugs in your home instead of carpets. Pollen, pet dander, mold, and dust mites collect in carpets. Use blinds instead of drapes on your windows.
  
• Vacuum often. But put a filter mask on your child first. (When you vacuum, the dust that comes up can give your child an asthma attack.)
  
• Mix 3/4 cup bleach in a gallon of water to mop bathroom tiles and floors, the kitchen, and other rooms. Then air out each room. This helps keep mold from growing.
  
• Put an air filter in your central heat or air-conditioning. Or use portable air cleaners to keep the air clean.
  
• Change or wash filters often. Keep the humidifier filter clean, if you use one. Use distilled water, not tap water, in humidifiers and vaporizers.
  
• Have your child wear a scarf around his or her mouth and nose when they are outside in cold weather. The scarf warms the air before your child breathes it in.
  
• It’s good for your child to do sports like swimming. But tell them to stop exercising if they start to wheeze.
  
• Don’t let your child eat foods or medicines that have sulfites. Shellfish for example often have sulfites. They bother many people with asthma.
  
• Have your child sit up during an asthma attack. Don’t let them lie down.
  
• Don’t run out of your child?s 12 asthma medicine. Keep the medicine handy. Have them take it as soon as they start to feel an attack.
  
• Don’t give your child aspirin! Some people with asthma are allergic to aspirin. Try acetami-nophen instead.

(Note: Do not give aspirin to anyone under 19 years old unless a doctor tells you to. Aspirin and other medicines that have salicylates have been linked to Reye’s Syndrome, a condition that can kill.)

]]> 14109 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/coughs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=coughs Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/coughs/ A lot of things can make you cough:

• An infection.
  
• An allergy.
  
• Cigarette smoke.
  
• Something stuck in your windpipe.
  
• Dry air.
  

Coughing can be a sign of many ailments. Your body uses coughing to clear your lungs and airways. Coughing itself is not the problem. What causes the cough is the problem. There are 3 kinds of coughs:

• Productive – A productive cough brings up mucus or phlegm.
  
• Non-productive – A non-productive cough is dry. It doesn’t bring up any mucus.
  
• Reflex – A reflex cough comes from a problem somewhere else, like the ear or stomach.
  
• How to treat your cough depends on what kind it is, what caused it, and your other symptoms. Treat the cause and soothe the irritation. Stay away from smoking and secondhand smoke, especially when you have a cough. Smoke hurts your lungs and makes it harder for your body to fight infection.
  

---

Self-Care Tips

For productive coughs (coughs that bring up mucus):

• Drink plenty of liquids. Water helps loosen mucus and soothe a sore throat. Fruit juices are good, too.
  
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer, especially in the bedroom. Put a humidifier on the furnace.
  
• Take a shower. The steam can help thin the mucus.
  
• Ask your pharmacist for an over-the-counter expectorant. Robitussin is one kind.
  
• Stop smoking cigarettes, cigars, and/or pipes. Stay away from places where people smoke.
  

For non-productive coughs (coughs that are dry):

• Drink plenty of liquids.
  
• Drink hot drinks like tea with lemon and honey to soothe the throat.
  
• Suck on cough drops or hard candy. (Don’t give these to children under 5 years of age).
  
• Take an over-the-counter cough medicine that has dextromethorphan. Robitussin-DM is one of these.
  
• Try a decongestant if you have post-nasal drip.
  
• Make your own cough medicine. Mix one part lemon juice and two parts honey. (Don’t give this to children less than 1 year old).
  

Other tips include:

• Don’t give children under 5 years of age small objects like paper clips and buttons or foods like peanuts and popcorn. A small child can easily get something caught in their throat or windpipe. Even adults should be careful to chew and swallow foods slowly so they don’t “go down the wrong way.”
  
• Don’t smoke. Stay away from second-hand smoke.
  
• Stay away from chemical gases that can hurt your lungs.
  

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Questions to Ask

Do you have these problems? Trouble breathing and not able to say more than 4-5 words between breaths (a baby or small child may be unable to cry, eat or drink a bottle) Chest pain Fainting Coughing up blood
Is the person who has the cough a baby or small child? If so, does he or she have these problems, too? The cough sounds like a seal’s bark (high and whistling) A fever of 102oF to 103oF
Did the cough start suddenly and last an hour or more without stopping?
Do wheezing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing or swelling of the abdomen, legs and ankles accompany the cough?
If the person with the cough is an adult, is there a fever of 102oF or higher?
Do you have any of these problems with the cough? Weight loss for no reason Feeling tired A lot of sweating at night
Does your chest hurt only when you cough and does the pain go away when you sit up or lean forward?
Do you cough up something thick and green, yellow, or rust-colored, with or without an odor?
Has the cough lasted more than 2 weeks without getting better?

]]> 15207 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/the-lower-respiratory-system/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-lower-respiratory-system Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000 https://healthy.net/2000/12/06/the-lower-respiratory-system/ Actions and herbs for the Lower Respiratory System

Pulmonary : Inula helenium,
Verbascum thapsus


Expectorant Stimulating:
Marrubium vulgare,
Cephaelis ipecacuanha, Sanguinaria canadensis

Relaxing : Tussilago farfara, Lobelia inflata,
Grindelia camporum

Demulcent: Plantago spp., Pulmonaria officinalis, Cetraria
islandica, Asclepias tuberosa

Anti-spasmodic: Euphorbia pilulifera, Drosera spp.,
Papaver spp., Prunus serotina, Lactuca virosa

Anti-microbial: Allium spp., Echinacea spp., Eucalyptus
spp., Thymus vulgaris

Anti-catarrhal: Hyssopus officinalis, Tussilago farfara

Cardio-Tonic: Crataegus spp., Leonurus cardiaca, Tilia europaea

Nervine: Hyssopus officinalis, Leonurus cardiaca, Lobelia
inflata, Lactuca virosa

There is a great deal that Phytotherapy has to offer in the treatment of
respiratory disease. However, a major obstacle to correct use lies in the
language herbalist’s use to describe them. What follows here is a brief recap
of the expectorant section in the Actions chapter. Please refer back to
it for more details of secondary actions etc..

Expectorants are herbs that help the body to remove excess mucous from the
lungs. However, it is a very badly used and mis-defined term that is often
used to mean a remedy that `does something’ for the Respiratory system.
To further elucidate the activity, and thus the therapeutic indications,
of the various remedies called `expectorants’ they are subdivided thus:

Expectorant

– Pulmonary/Tonic

– Stimulating expectorant

• alkaloid containing

• saponin containing

• volatile oil containing
  

– Relaxing expectorant

• demulcent

• anti-inflammatory (often also anti-microbial)
  

  – usually with volatile oil

• anti-spasmodic – alkaloid containing
  

  – volatile oil containing
  

The stimulating expectorants can act in different ways to produce
the same effect, and it is not always clear how a specific remedy is working,
but current ideas suggest the following processes:

• irritation of the bronchioles to stimulate the expulsion of any material
  present.

• liquefaction of viscid sputum so that it can be cleared by coughing.
  The sputum is moved upwards from the lungs by the fine hairs of the ciliated
  epithelium lining the bronchiole tubes. Reducing the viscosity through expectorants
  facilitates this transport.
  

Most stimulating expectorants contain alkaloids, saponins or volatile
oils. However not all chemicals in these groups, or plants with these
constituents have this activity.

The relaxing expectorants would seem to act also by reflex but here
it is to soothe bronchial spasm and loosen mucous secretions. This loosening
is occasioned by producing a thinner mucous, lifting the stickier stuff
up from below. This makes them useful in dry, irritating coughs. You will
notice that this action is similar in some respects to the demulcents, and
both actions owe a lot to their content of mucilage and occasionally volatile
oils.

The pharmacopeias abound in plant remedies and most of the herbs still in
the British and American official lists are expectorants, anti-tussive or
decongestants. However, the allopathic focus on effect has meant the dropping
of the tonic remedies. Pulmonaries provide Phytotherapy with the possibility
of strengthening both tissue and function in addition to addressing the
symptoms of respiratory disease.

Tonics for the Lower Respiratory System

Herbs that are known as pulmonaries, or amphoteric expectorants have a
beneficial effect upon both the tissue of the lungs and their functioning.
Important remedies include

The differential indications will be found in the materia medica for
each of the remedies. A generalizationcan be made based upon
Inula having stimulating expectorant effects whilst Verbascum
is more of a relaxing expectorant. Tussilago is the best of the three
for children.

Maintenance of Respiratory Health

Much of the disease commonly associated with both upper and lower respiratory
systems is preventable. Air quality is the key. By avoiding particulate
air pollution and chemical irritants such as sulphur dioxide, many of the
disabling conditions of the lungs would not develop. Thus smoking, both
active and passive, as well as urban and industrial pollution are important
issues for the therapist and the patient. This need not be developed
here, but anyone concerned about the health of their lungs should become
active in Friends of the Earth!

Patterns of Disease

There are five primary symptoms in this system, and whilst each may be treated
effectively with herbs, they must be seen as signposts to the underlying
pathology. These symptoms are

• Cough, defined as a sudden explosive expiatory maneuver that
  tends to clear material from the airways. This will be caused by irritation
  somewhere within the respiratory tract, and is discussed below.
  

• Dyspnoea, or breathlessness of some degree, is discussed under
  asthma. It is defined as an unpleasant sensation of difficulty in breathing,
  and has a range of clinical manifestations
  

1. Physiological Dyspnoea: This is the commonest type of breathlessness
   and is associated with physical exertion. Ventilation is increased and maintained
   through an augmented respiratory stimulus provided by metabolic and other
   factors. Dyspnoea is common during acute hypoxia (oxygen lack), such
   as at high altitudes, where the increased respiratory stimulus is in part
   the effect of arterial hypoxia on the carotid bodies. These are receptor
   sites in the carotid arteries that monitor the concentration of gases in
   the blood.
   

2. Pulmonary: The two major causes here are a restrictive
   defect which lessens the lungs or chest wall from efficient movement (e.g.
   pulmonary fibrosis), or an obstructive defect which increases resistance
   of flow in the airways (e.g. asthma)
   

3. Cardiac: In the early stages of heart failure the availability
   of oxygen to the tissues of the body via the blood fails to keep pace with
   increased metabolic need during exercise. As a result respiration is increased
   because of tissue and cerebral acidosis, causing hyper-ventilation. In later
   stages the lungs are congested are congested and edematous, the capacity
   of the stiff lungs is reduced and the effort needed to breath is increased.
   Cardiac asthma is a state of acute respiratory insufficiency often
   very similar to other types of asthma but it originates from left ventricular
   failure. Orthopnea, or breathing discomfort that occurs while laying
   flat, is usually symptomatic of a cardiovascular basis to dyspnoea.
   

4. Circulatory (air hunger): is often a medical emergency due to
   lack of oxygen following blood hemorrhage. It may occasionally be associated
   with anemia.
   

5. Chemical: related to uremia or diabetic acidosis.
   

6. Central: connected to cerebral lesions.
   

7. Psychogenic: Know as `hysterical over breathing’.
   

• Chest pain, is a common presenting symptom and calls for skilled
  differential diagnosis. Cardiovascular causes must be distinguished from
  the range of pulmonary problems that might be implicated.
  

• Wheeze, describes an awareness of noises associated with breathing.
  

• Hemoptysis, or the coughing up of blood, is a sign that skilled diagnosis
  is called for.