To Add_Misc
Indigestion: artichoke, bachelor's button, bitter orange,
Insomnia: California poppy,
Menopause: he shou wu,
- Menopausal Palpitations: hawthorn and motherwort.
To regulate menstruation: spikenard,
For heavy periods: hawthorn
Ringworm: passionflower decoction
UTI:
- Pour cold water over 1 teaspoon coarsely powdered Bearberry/Uva Ursi leaves and let stand for 12-24 hours to make a tea.
He shou wu (Polygonum multiflorum)
Parts used: root, stems
A Taoist longevity tonic. Blood & heart tonic that also helps kidney and liver energy (so can be helpful for aging issues such as deafness, tinnitus and greying hair). Can calm the nerves and improves blood circulation. Good for menopause. Can help with heart issues and to reduce cholesterol levels. Also used to clear abscesses and boils.
Avoid if you have diarrhea.
Tincture: up to 1 tsp 3 times daily
capsules - up to 600mg daily
Gurmari (Gymnema sylvestre): good for digestive problems, diabetes, high cholesterol, weight loss, poultice used for snake bites and wounds. Avoid in pregnancy. Parts used: leaves, root
Witch hazel (hamamelis virginiana): externally (rubs or steam baths) used for pain, backache, sore muscles, bruises, sprains, nosebleeds, cuts, spots/blemishes, varicose veins, hemorrhoids.
steam can be used to treat eye injuries,
Internally, tea of leaves is effective on diarrhea, colitis, excessive menstruation & hemmorrhage.
Parts used: bark, leaves
Devil's claw (Harpagophytum procumbens): good for digestive upsets,
can be used internally or externally in creams or rubs for rheumatism, arthritis, muscle & joint pain
Parts used: root tubers
Can stimulate uterus - avoid if pregnant.
Paratudo (Pfaffia paniculato) Also known as Brazilian genseng or "Suma".
Part used: root
Considered a cure-all by some. Antitumor, aphrodisiac, wound herb, diabetes, cancer.
Chronic fatigue syndrome, arrthritis, gout, regulate cholesterol levels, arteriosclerosis, menopausal issues (some even say a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy).
Ispaghula (Plantago spp)
Part used: seeds, seed husks
Encourages bowel movements and lubricates the bowels. Can also help soothe diarrhea and is sometimes recommended for IBS. Creates a feeling of fullness, so can also be used as a slimming aid. It is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, soothing and softening for the skin, so externally the seeds can be used in poultices for wounds & skin infections.
Guarana (Paullinia cupana)
Part used: seeds
Known as an energy elixir. Also used for hunger, fatigue, fevers, headaches and muscle cramps. Is still a popular everyday drink in Brazil. Believed to stimulate the nervous system, improve concentration, and speed recovery after illness. It can also encourage urination in cystitis and other urinary tract disorders. Can be used as a painkiller for menstrual problems and to relieve the discomfort of extreme heat. Has a caffeinelike compound which metabolizes slower, so it give a gentler, more sustained stimulation in comparison to coffee. Can be helpful in chronic fatique syndrome and SAD (seasonal affective disorder).
Avoid in cases of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Pau d'arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa)
Parts used: inner bark, heartwood
Important anti-cancer and anti-microbial remedy. Used to treat asthma, dibetes, bronchitis, cancer, rabies, stomach ulcers, syphilis and various infections. Yeast infections. Leukemia and stomach cancer. Breast & prostate cancers. Candida. Effective for colds, flu and fevers. ulcers, rheumatism, high blood pressure, skin infections, urinary inflammations and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Damiana (Turnera diffusa var. aphrodisiaca)
Parts used: leaves
Aphrodisiac, energy tonic, combats fatigue.
strengthens male hormones, used for impotence, loss of libido, premature ejaculation.
used for painful or delayed periods
used in convalescence and encourages the appetite.
mood enhancing. encourages urinations (good for cystitis and other urinary tract problems)
used with saw palmetto for male sexual problems
used with oats and vervain for depression
used with raspberry leaf and st john's wort for menstrual discomfort and irregularity