The Benefits of Medicinal herbs

Agnus Castus has been used for thousands of years for its beneficial effects on the female hormonal system. The berries of the Agnus Castus plant have the ability to balance the hormones and so regulates heavy periods, restores absent menstruation as well as relieving the symptoms of PMS and the menopause.

Black Cohosh has a wide variety of uses including treatment of headache and tinnitus. Traditionally used for the treatment of ‘female conditions’ it is particularly effective for painful periods and reducing hot flushes during menopause. A modern specific herbal substitute for HRT.

Dandelion is a highly effective diuretic - removing excess fluid from the body and helping in weight control. It cleanses the liver and so is an invaluable detoxifying agent when taken regularly. The root can be roasted and ground into a coffee like drink. The leaf is available in capsule form to be taken as a supplement.

Passiflora is a valuable tranquillising herb and its sedative effects have a long history of use in North America. It is frequently used in the treatment of insomnia, epilepsy, hysteria and nervous tension. It may also help in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and PMS.

Feverfew has been extensively researched since 1970 and has proved to be beneficial in the treatment of migraine headaches and rheumatism.

Chamomile was grown in English gardens for centuries for its medicinal use. It is a wonderfully soothing herb and is excellent for treating nervous disorders including nervous tension, irritability. It is used in the treatment of stomach disorders such as Crohn’s disease and peptic ulcers and given as a weak tea to teething babies will reduce the pain of inflamed gums. Current research shows that regular drinkers of chamomile tea suffer less from colds and menstrual cramps due to the herbs effect of increasing levels of glycine and hippurate in the body.

Hawthorn is an extremely valuable herb used mainly for treating disorders of the heart and circulatory system especially angina. It is particularly indicated in the treatment of a weak heart combined with high blood pressure. Prolonged use is necessary for the treatment to be effective.

Cranesbill Root is antiseptic, diuretic and highly astringent. It is used in the treatment of diarrhoea, irritable bowel syndrome and kidney complaints. A Corrective agent in menstrual problems

Mistletoe influences the circulatory system. Mistletoe - one of the natural tranquillisers that are none habit forming may be beneficial in cases of epilepsy, tumours and menstrual problems.

Sage once widely used in this country by the medical profession has for some time been neglected and its healing properties ignored. However it is once again coming back to the fore as it’s benefits to women suffering the menopause are being recognised. Its usage covers a range of conditions including night sweats, profuse perspiration, anxiety, depression, female sterility and menopausal symptoms. It should not be taken during pregnancy or if suffering from epilepsy.

Slippery Elm is considered to be one of the most valuable of remedies in herbal practice particularly in cases of irritation to the mucous membranes of the chest, urinary tract, stomach and intestines. It has a soothing and healing effect on all parts of the body that it comes into contact with and is used in the treatment of digestive irritation, stomach ulcers and indigestion.

HERB OF THE MONTH - GINGER (Zingiber officianle)

Our chosen Herb of the Month is Ginger, although strictly speaking this is not herb but a spice. We all know Ginger as an everyday culinary ingredient, used because of its warm, sweet aroma and taste. The smell of Ginger conjures up memories of warm Gingerbread on cold winter days but its culinary benefits are only one aspect of the uses of this invaluable root.

Used for more than 5000 years in Chinese medicine and in parts of Asia, Ginger was thought to be so precious as to be mentioned in the writings of Confucius and the Koran. The medicinal benefits of ginger are many but often overlooked in our pharmaceutically driven society.

It is an excellent aid to nausea and intestinal gas. The chemical compounds that give Ginger its distinctive taste – gingerol and shogoal – reduce intestinal contractions whilst neutralising digestive acids and inhibiting the part of the brain that tells the stomach it wants to vomit.

Researchers in Denmark have reported that a third of a teaspoon of fresh or powdered Ginger, taken at the first sign of migraine, may reduce symptoms by blocking prostaglandins, chemicals that inflame blood vessels in the brain. Another study found that taking ginger eased the symptoms of 55 per cent of people with osteoarthritis and 74 per cent of people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Ginger thins the blood just as aspirin does but without the side effects of stomach upset.

Ginger blocks the body’s production of substances that contribute to congestion of the chest and sinus. It is also known to act as a cough suppressant and even an aphrodisiac!

A simple, natural, readily available health aid, ginger can be taken in fresh, dried or crystallised form.