Cold Remedy – Horehound is a valuable plant in the treatment of bronchitis where there is a non-productive cough. It combines the action of relaxing the smooth muscles of the bronchus while promoting mucus production and thus expectoration. It is beneficial in the treatment of whooping cough.
Cough Remedy – Horehound is used in many cough mixtures to clear phlegm. As a bitter is restores normal secretions to the organs and glands.
Tonic – The bitter action stimulates the flow and secretion of bile from the gall bladder, aiding digestion.
Cautions: Horehound preparations may interact with the drug hydroxytryptamine (antidepressant). Cardioactives in the herb may interfere with antiarrhythmic drugs, increase the risk of hypokalemia, antagonize beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, interact with depolarizing muscle relaxants and increase the risk of arrhythmias, interfere with nitrates and calcium-channel blockers, and cardioactives may increase the arrhythmogenic potential of terfenadine. Due to the diuretic action of Horehound the following drug interactions are possible: increased risk of toxicity with anti-inflammatory analgesics; if hypokalemia occurs possible antagonism with antiarrhythmics and potentiation of muscle relaxants; antagonizes antidiabetic (hypoglycemic) drugs; may potentiate and/or interfere with antihypertensives; may potentiate lithium therapy; when taken with corticosteroids there is a risk for hypokalemia; may potentiate other diuretics and increase the risk of hypokalemia. Preparations of this herb may antagonize antihypertensive drugs and nitrates and calcium-channel blockers, and when combined with sympathomimetics there is an increased risk of hypertension. Interferes with the absorption of iron and other minerals when taken internally. Possible adverse effects and/or overdose effects include dermatitis, irritation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Very large doses can cause arrhythmia.
Constituents: Marrubiin, a diterpene lactone, with premarrubiin; diterpene alcohols; marruciol, marrubenol, sclareol, peregrinin, dihydroperegrinin; volatile oil, containing [[alpha]]-pinene, sabinene, limonene, camphene, p-cymol, [[alpha]]-terpinolene; alkaloids; traces of betonicine and its isomer turicine; miscellaneous; choline, alkanes, phytosterols, tanins etc.PHOTOS: Horehound Tincture 2 oz.; picking early spring Horehound; Horehound leaves ready to processing.
This sacred plant of Moon Lodge ceremonies grows from ten to 20 inches tall from a woody taproot. Its inconspicuous May to July blooming flowers are tiny, pale green to yellow and grow from the axils of the upper leaves. It you examine each small blossom you will see that the tube-shaped corolla opens into five petals. The tough, hairy stems are many and unbranched. Leaves are linear with a deeply incised center vein and up to four inches long. Puccoon grows in open dry places, hillsides and along roadways.
Constituents: Lithospermic acid, caffeic acid, D-3-(3,4- dihydroxyphenyl) lactic acid, chlorogenic acid, succinic acid, and rutin.
Cancer aid – Its ability to reduce sex hormone production indicates that Puccoon may be useful in treating breast cancer dependent on stimulation by estrogenic hormones.
Graves’ Disease – The plant strongly depresses the iodide pump but does not inhibit the organification process as do the drugs phenylthiouracil and mercaptoimidazole (which can cause allergic reactions). Use the combination of fresh leaf/flower tincture (30 drops) and root tincture (40 drops) in ½ cup cold water twice daily.
Prostate – Puccoon’s inactivation of LH (luteinizing hormone) helps reduce enlarged prostate glands. Use the combination of fresh leaf/flower tincture (1/4 tsp.) and root tincture (1/2 tsp.) in ½ cup cold water twice daily. Recent Research Documents: Journal of Naturopathic Medicine; Volume 1, Number 1; Inhibition of Endocrine Function by Botanical Agents by Francis Brinker, N.D; Received 12 July 1989, accepted for publication 1 February 1990.
Plantago Major. For canker sores and mouth ulcers use diluted Plantain tincture as a mouthwash.
Common Plantain came to the United States with the Europeans. "Plantago" is derived from a Latin word meaning "sole of the foot". Plantain is now naturalized throughout the United States. It is a perennial plant, which dies to the ground each winter and sprouts anew from its fibrous taproot around mid-spring. The oval, ribbed, short-stemmed leaves form basal rosettes which tend to hug the ground. The leaves may grow up to about 6" long and 4" wide. Between early summer and late fall, leafless flower stalks, 6" to 18" tall, arise from the center of the rosette. The flower stalks bear densely packed greenish white flowers each of which will become a small capsule-like seedpod containing 10 to 20 seeds.
Constituents: P. major contains biologically active compounds such as polysaccharides, lipids, caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, iridoid glycosides and terpenoids. Alkaloids and some organic acids have also been detected.
Diabetic aid – Plantain tincture can lower blood sugar in Type II diabetes. Use 1 tsp. in ½ cup warm water at mealtimes. It works even more effectively when blended with an equal amount of Huckleberry leaf tincture.
Expectorant – Plantain tincture loosens and expels phlegm from the lungs and respiratory system. It is used to relieve dry coughs, chronic bronchitis, coughing, wheezing and irritation. Add ½ to 1 tsp. to ½ cup of boiling hot water and sip, as needed.
Urinary Tract – Use 1 tsp. of Plantain and ½ tsp. Horsetail tinctures in ½ cup warm water. The Plantain acts as an astringent and demulcent while the Horsetail helps the connective tissues. This formula tones and heals the urinary tract.
Geum macrophyllum. Avensroot is considered an excellent remedy for fevers and has been substituted for quinine in the past. Use the fresh root tincture, ½ to 1 teaspoon per half cup of warm water, every two to three hours. Wild harvested in the mountains of central Idaho.
Clematis Columbiana 2 oz. dropper bottle Blue Virgin's Bower Flower. Take one or two droppers of the fresh flower tincture at the first indication of a migraine, such as visual disturbances. Take up to three times a day, but do not exceed this dosage. Do not take with other medications.
Virgin's Bower was collected by Nathaniel Wyeth along the Flathead River in Western Montana in 1833 and was named columbiana in 1834 by Thomas Nuttall, who did not realize that the Columbia River was actually far to the west.
Cautions: Clematis can cause symptoms of poisoning if taken in high doses. High doses may also cause gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, colic, and irritation of the urinary tract. Extended contact with freshly harvested clematis can cause skin rashes and blisters. Clematis should never be used by children, or by women who are pregnant or lactating.
Constituents: The acrid compound anemonin, behenic-acid, beta-sitosterol, caffeic-acid, campesterol, ceryl-alcohol, clematine, clematitol, ginnol, ginnone, melissic-acid, protoanemonin, stigmasterol-glycolside, trimethylanmine, and vitalbosides.
Dermatological aid – Burdock root works best on chronic and non-acute skin, sweat or sebaceous eruptions, ranging from acne to psoriasis. Burdock root has proven to be most effective for psoriasis if used over a long period of time.
Cautions: Don't use if open sores are present or in the later stages of measles, or if you have excess stomach acid, irritable bowels, or ulcers or are experiencing diarrhea or heartburn. Pregnant women should also avoid burdock as it is a uterine stimulant. Burdock can lower blood sugar and in combination with insulin or other drugs to control blood sugar could possibly lower it too much. Diabetics should use burdock only under a physician's close supervision.
Constituents: Lignans, including arctigenin, its glycoside arctiin, and matairesinol. Polyacetylenes, in the root, mainly tridecadienetetraynes and tridecatrienetriynes, with the sulphur-containing arctic acid. Amino acids, such as [[alpha]]-guanidino-n-butyric acid Inulin in the roots Miscellaneous organic acids, fatty acids and phenolic acids; includingacetic, butyric, isovaleric, lauric, myristic, caffeic and chlorogenicacids.
Cancer aid – Dandelion root has been traditionally used for preventing and treating cancer of most types. As a preventative, incorporate Dandelion root into your daily regime in the form of tea, tincture, capsules or coffee. Triple the dosage if working with active cancer.
Digestive aid – Since dandelion stimulates the gall-bladder, it can also help with chronic gastritis which often results from gall-bladder conditions. One to 1 ½ tsp. of root and leaf tincture in warm water should be taken before meals. The dandelion may be tinctured with other bitter herbs, such as gentian, burdock seed and yellow toadflax.
Diuretic – Dandelion is a non-potassium depleting diuretic (supposedly as effective as Lasix®) useful for treating fluid retention, cystitis, and hepatitis induced ascites (abnormal accumulation of fluid in the stomach). The herb is also applicable in cases of water retention due to heart problems, its action comparable to that of the drug `Frusemide'.
Kidney aid – The usual effect of a drug stimulating the kidney function is a loss of vital potassium from the body, which aggravates any cardio-vascular problem present. With Dandelion, however, we have one of the best natural sources of potassium. It thus makes an ideally balanced diuretic that may be used safely wherever such an action is needed.
Liver aid – is a leading remedy for an ailing liver. It stimulates the flow of bile, a fluid that aids fat digestion, which is why it's used for liver and gallbladder disorders. Dandelion has scientifically documented potent diuretic properties. It relieves constipation and eases bloating and swelling. Dandelion root may also be used in inflammation and congestion of liver and gall-bladder. It is specific in cases of congestive jaundice. Take ½ to 1 tsp. of tinctured root three times a day.
Tonic – Dandelion is one of the most valuable general tonic herbs. It can be taken in large quantities over a long period of time since it has rarely been know to produce toxic effects. As a general tonic for overall health--but specifically the liver, blood and urinary system--take 1 tsp. of tincture of leaves and roots daily.
