Weeds & Seeds Swap

We spend a lot of time talking about gardens, herbs, medicinal herbs, and what to do to take care of certain health conditions. In the summer when you garden, you need to protect your skin from the sun, in the winter when it’s cold, your skin gets dry and needs not only sun protection, but lotions for dryness.

Some skin conditions are not weather related, however, which leads us to taking a look at rosacea treatment. This condition is one that causes redness to the skin, is a chronic condition that is suffered by women more than men. There are many treatments out there, but one that is making the news and very popular is available at the “live link” above. There you can find all the answers you need about this skin condition, and will also find that your skin needs certain kind of treatment when it is dry, and another when it is oily.

I have learned a lot about this condition through the site, and because I am a female and have fair skin, am more likely than some to experience this, so far, I don’t notice any of the typical symptoms, but am glad for the education received.

We’re looking at ways to enjoy the cool months of winter in climates that are not warm all year round…and I found another today, Saunas!  What a wonderful way to warm yourself, whether inside or out. 

Not only does this sound inviting, but there are health benefits…your skin is the largest organ on the body, and time in a Sauna, if your health care provider approves, is a perfect way to cleanse the pours, and flush out toxins. I was looking at a site with beautiful infrared saunas with many designs for both indoor and outdoor use. At the site that the “live link” above will lead you to, you will find a list of health benefits provided by using a Sauna, including pain relief (my aching muscles and joints like the sound of that), detoxification, and other benefits.

You can enjoy the outdoors in the winter in a snow-resistant outdoor Sauna…imagine enjoying the warmth of a Sauna in your yard, once green and colorful with flowers, now white with snow…the contrast of the cold and warmth of a Sauna is appealing to many. Prices are quite good, quantities are limited on some designs so visit soon, and the shipping appears to be free, at this particular site, so it may be a good time to take a look.

Black Walnut, which goes by the botanical name Juglans nigra is not something many of us will be planting in our gardens, but if you have a tree on your property, you have probably come across the nut or hulls on your property. This hardwood tree grows in the US, Canada, Europe and even in parts of Asia.

Medicinal properties are said to be in the roots, leaves and hulls.

Greeks and Romans used Black Walnut for skin conditions such as fungal infections, and Chinese use it for pain in the lower to mid-back, constipation, asthma and other uses that show this plant has a number of medicinal qualities. It promotes healing of sores in the mouth and throat. It is also a parasitic.

What Science shows:

• The hulls are high in tannins which is why some use it to rid the body of intestinal worms/parasites.
• Studies in U of Missouri in 1960’s seemed to show it helped with blood pressure and had some properties that may have anti-tumor affect.
• Black Walnut hulls are quite high in Vitamin C
• Past studies with an extract form showed it showed it contracted smooth muscles of rat and guinea pig intestines.  Such activity is helpful in the elimination process
• Please contact me if you would like references for any of the above.
• Black Walnut can be purchased in capsule and extract form.

If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!

 Image from http://www.marietta.edu

Horsetail goes by the botanical name Equisetum arvense. Though native to Europe, we have it all over in the area where I live, in Northern NJ, perhaps because we are in a lake community and the herb loves moist soil. When you drive out of our community, it grows heavily along the roadway beside another lake close to us. The Latin name means “horse bristle”. Fossil records show that this plant is very primitive. It also shows that the plant used to grow as tall as sixty feet! Now it grows to about 2 feet.

Historical Use:

Meskwaki Indians fed Horsetail to their horses to improve the gloss of the hair, the main & tail. It was also used to scrub, clean & polish cooking utensils. The Greek physician, Diosorides, suggested using it as an astringent. In Switzerland, a tincture was used for cystitis and tuberculosis. American Indians and the early American settlers used it as a diuretic for kidney disorders. Folk medicine indicates use to help with excess menstruation and bleeding. The properties that probably gave the herb all these useful benefits include the fact that the herb is astringent, antiseptic, ani-hemorrhagic, diaphoretic, emmengogue, homeostatic, tonic and vulnerary. Today, it is suggested as one of a number of herbs helpful during cold and flu season to increase resistance to infection.

Scientific Info:

Horsetail can be used as an astringent both internally and externally to treat skin abrasions, diarrhea and indigestion (Spoerke, “Herbal Medications”). Silica is one of the main nutrients found in horsetail, an extremely common element in the earth. It is also found in the connective tissue throughout the body, aiding in the building and repair of connective tissue. It helps to increase collagen, and aids the body is using calcium to build bones. A UCLA study found that silicon supplements significantly increased bone calcium content as opposed to non-supplementation (Faelton, “Complete Book of Minerals and Health”). (Note: This is why a calcium supplement that I use, Skeletal Strength, contains certain herbs, because not only does vitamin D, Magnesium, etc. help with calcium absorption, but also the properties in the herbs.)

Some research seems to indicate that because Horsetail is high in Silica, which reduces blood cholesterol and helps to prevent aging and degenerative disorders like heart disease, for example. Silica is also beneficial to the skin & eyes. The flavanoids in Horsetail strengthen the capillaries, it’s phytosterols, or plant steriods, help with inflammation. Some use it for inflammation in the kidneys, bladder, and prostate. This herb is also a great source of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. It has moderately high levels of vitamin E and pantothenic acid (B5). The minerals/trace minerals include calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, selenium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, cobalt and iodine, contributing to strong connective tissue, hair, skin and nails.

PABA, a building block to folic acid and antioxidant that protects the skin from sunburn, is also found in horsetail.

If you would like a fact sheet about any of the items marked in red, please send me an email. Thanks!

Safety Issues: This herb is not recommended for those who hypertension, or certain cardiovascular problems, and remember, my Disclaimer in the right margin applies.

Image Courtesy of http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/

I visited a site recently that has pure medicinal products, and makes the claim that their products are proven effective in medical studies.

Since they use medicinal formulas from the earth, I was naturally drawn to the site. Now this particular site deals with remedies for such things as cold sores, warts, Genital Herpes (caused by a virus similar to what causes cold sores), and HPV. Because of the fact that forms of the herpes virus are transmitted sexually, some of the content on the site is best viewed by adults only. There is nothing indiscreet on the landing page, however, just a warning for those who are sensitive. There is a tremendous amount of educational information provided that is helpful for those dealing with this condition, and the balms and creams, are all natural and 100% organic.

One of the popular items mentioned at the site is called “H-Balm” which is “composed of the highly prized essential oils of Melissa, Lemon Balm, and six separate anti-viral essential oils and plant extracts all medically proven to inactivate the herpes virus. H-Balm and H-Balm Daily are 100% pure and all natural”.

If you are dealing with any of these conditions, like so many other posts on this blog, it’s wonderful to know there is a natural solution that works!

These are the beautiful, pink flowers of the Tabebuia heptaphylla tree, also known as ipe roxo, taheebo, lapacho, ipes and trumpet brush, no doubt due to the trumpet shape of the lovely flower.

The medicinal properties of the herb..actually a South American tree..are found in the bark. As a “folk remedy”, it has been used for years for boils, colitis, diarrhea, dysentery, fever, wounds, cancer, ulcers and the list does do on. But is there any scientific basis for these claims?

The Science Behind the Herb:

I will share with you what studies have shown, for the sake of time, I have withheld references, but have them at my fingertips if you’d like to contact me by email or through posting a comment.

Analysis of the bark shows that it contains volatile oils, resins, anthraquinones and naphthoquinones. The most significant property is a naphthoquinone derivative known as lapachol. In 1968 lapachol was shown to have activity against the Walker 256 carsinosarcoma.

Other studies found that it also acted against other cancers, including Yoshida sarcoma and Murphy-Sturm lymphosarcoma. Effective levels given to humans lead to the discontinuance of human trials as side effects included moderate to severe nausea, vomiting, anemia and the tendency to bleed.

Being related to vitamin K, it can thin the blood. However, the head of the study claims that political and economic pressure lead to the discontinuance of studies more than side affects. Later studies in the 1970’s showed evidence that lapachol was active against lymphocytic leukemia.

My personal interest in the herb is more related to it’s antimicrobial activity, not taking it in the amounts needed for conditions like cancer. Some of the organisms shown to be affected by this activity include candida, staphylococcus, trichophyton, malaria, tuberculosis and dysentery. Lapochol and xyloidine, other actives from the pau d’arco, have shown significant anti-fungal activity. Studies have continued, and more positive findings have surely come in since the documentation I have been using for this post.

This is one of the very first herbs I started to use when I first discovered the health benefits of herbs. Here are some sources for this herb:

Pau d’arco Capsules
Pau d’arco Extract
Taheebo (pau d’arco) Tea

Among the plants in my “everything” garden that is in the only sunny spot on our property is Sage. I call it the “everything” garden because there is no real rhyme or reason for what is growing there, there are herbs, vegetables, flowers, a rose bush, and somehow it all comes together.

The botanical name for the garden variety of Sage that I planted is Salvia (which means “to heal”) Officinalis. Even though it is a perennial, it becomes woody over time, and needs replacing. I replaced an older plant last year because it was woody and no longer produced many leaves.

My father was an epileptic, and I remember some years ago being sure to tell my mother not to give him sage, as it is contraindicated for epileptics.

Taken internally, Sage has been historically used for many things, including indigestion, gas, excess perspiration, excess lactation, sterility in woman, menopausal concerns, anxiety & depression. Externally it has been used to sooth bug bites, heal infections in the mouth (gums, throat) and skin infections.

Extracts of Sage have antioxidant properties.

Besides it’s medicinal properties, this herb is very aromatic, and a wonderful culinary herb, especially in meat dishes.

Here is a source for Sage in various forms:

Clary Sage Essential Oil
CC-A a combination that contains Sage
HSN-W a hair, skin, nails herbal combination
and of course Sage itself.

Thank you for reading!