The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (61 page)

Medical Uses:

Marshmallow Root's particular excellence involves soothing irritated tissue, and it relieves various forms of inflammation, especially of the mucous membranes, since it is high in mucilage, which is very soothing to the membranes. It aids the body in expelling excess fluid and mucus. The herb is used in many lung preparations and cough syrups to alleviate a dry, hacking cough, whooping cough and laryngitis. It soothes the membranes, frequently preventing cough.

Because it contains salicylic acid (the natural forerunner of synthetic aspirin), Marshmallow has been used to relieve the pain of headaches and muscle aches; and along with its ability to expel excess fluid and mucus, it also helps to ease sore throat and sinusitis.

Marshmallow Root is an old-time remedy for gastrointestinal disorders and strengthening the digestive system, because it contains polysaccharides that form a protective layer on the stomach lining and will lower stomach acids. The herb has frequently been used to ease ulcers, peptic ulcers, Crohn's disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and colitis.

As a diuretic, Marshmallow Root i
ncreases the flow of urine and rids the body of excess fluid. It has been used to improve kidney function, soothe the urinary tract and relieve cystitis and bladder infections.

Marshmallow improves the functioning of the immune system, since it is known to stimulate phagocytosis, the immune process in which cells called macrophages engulf and digest infectious micro-organisms that attack healthy cells and cause serious disease.

Used externally, Marshmallow Root may be used in an ointment as an emollient to soften and soothe skin and dry hands. The mucilage’s form a protective layer on damaged skin and heals. Used internally and externally, the high mucilage content will also promote rapid healing of diaper rash, skin ulcers, sunburns, psoriasis, and eczema and problem skin.

Dosages:
Take two (2) capsules, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
None

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Maté
is a
powerful stimulant
and more popular in its native South America than tea or coffee (it is the national drink of Argentina!). Maté has a reputation as a nutritious tonic that not only
stimulates the body
(providing youthful vigor and energy), but it also
stimulates the mind (
promoting mental acuity and clarity).

Plant Description:

Maté is a large, white-flowered, evergreen shrub that grows wild near streams in moist, well-drained soil in sun or shade and requires at least a forty-five-degree Fahrenheit temperature to succeed.

It is native to South America and has been cultivated as a very valuable commercial crop in northern Argentina, Southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay (and has also been naturalized in Texas). Paraguay exports millions of pounds of Maté annually. The tree produces a large red fruit or drupe (which is never consumed) and leafy shoots that may be picked at intervals throughout the year in the same way as tea.

History:

The leaves are used in herbal medicine and also made into a tea that is the "beverage of choice" in much of South America. Because of its enormous popularity, Maté is heavily cultivated as a valuable crop and has displaced great areas of rain forest canopy trees. Although the trees sometimes reach a height of twenty feet, they are still much lower than the rain forest canopy they replace and have, thus, created an environmental issue. A beverage made from the leaf is the national drink of Argentina, where it is touted as an energizer and a tonic, and it is so popular that the average Argentine consumes about eleven pounds annually! The odor is not particularly agreeable and the taste rather bitter, but it is drunk at every meal and every hour. Maté was first brought under cultivation by Jesuit missionaries, who had learned of the herb and its many benefits (as a cooling drink and a folk remedy for scurvy) from the South American Indians; and the Jesuits risked their safety, searching for the shrubs in the dense jungles of Brazil, where it grew wild. After cultivating the small trees in their missions, the common names, Jesuit Tea and Missionaries' Tea emerged. The name Maté (pronounced
mah-tay
) is derived from the Spanish word, meaning "gourd," which was the vessel in which the drink was infused in the same manner as tea, and the cup passed around.

Maté was introduced into the United States in the 1970s, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has generally recognized the herb as safe for use as a food additive and supplement. Some of the constituents in Maté include caffeine, theobromine, chlorogenic acid, chlorophyll, rutin, tannin, ursolic acid, vanillin, choline, inositol, nicotinic acid, pyridoxine, trace minerals, B-vitamins and vitamins C and E.

Medical Uses:

Maté has been used for centuries as an invigorating, bracing tonic that revitalizes the body, while also stimulating the mind, and some even claim that it combats the ageing process. It produces a natural energy without interfering with sleep (although it isn't recommended for insomniacs). Maté is generally considered a powerful stimulant that will also help to enhance the efficacy of other stimulant and healing herbs.

Maté is recommended for balancing and strengthening immune function and toning the nervous system. It is said to help restore the entire system and ease mild nervous depression, soothe tension headaches and fight fatigue.

As a diaphoretic, Maté helps to promote perspiration (thereby also removing toxins from the body through the skin) and lowering fever and cooling the body. The herb is also believed to be a powerful diuretic that encourages urine flow and helps the body expel excess retained fluid. This is particularly helpful in relieving the excess water weight and bloated feelings associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

Maté is considered an excellent antioxidant that fights free radicals in the system. It contains polyphenols that are said to be similar to those in green tea. They are compounds that prevent the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad cholesterol," which helps to inhibit the progress of arteriosclerosis.

Maté is believed to possess anti-inflammatory properties that are helpful in alleviating rheumatic conditions and inflammatory bowel disorders. The herb is also thought to stimulate the production of cortisone, which is a natural anti-inflammatory.

As a stimulant, Maté is thought to help relieve constipation, and because it is high in mineral content, the herb helps to restore minerals that may be lost in the laxative process.

Maté is the source of trace minerals and considered very nutritious and sustaining. It was frequently carried as the only refreshment on journeys lasting several days. Because Maté is especially rich in minerals such as magnesium, manganese and potassium, it helps the body maintain electrolyte balance and restore lost minerals caused by rapid weight loss due to a high protein diet.

Supporting its reputation as a stimulant, Maté is said to stimulate the burning of fat. There are claims that the herb suppresses or helps to curb the appetite. It is also thought that the caffeine stimulates weight loss by short-circuiting the feedback mechanisms that keep the body from producing more adrenaline when stimulated by other weight loss herbs. While probably not actually affecting weight loss by itself, it appears to boost the stimulant properties of other herbs.

Maté is thought to be a depurative, an agent that cleanses and purifies the blood. The herb is also said to be useful for alleviating allergies.

Dosages:
Take two (2) capsules, one (1) to two (2) times each day with water on an empty stomach.

Precautions:
Pregnant or nursing women and people who suffer from insomnia should not use Maté, because of the stimulating effects of the caffeine content. The herb should not be taken with meals, since it may interfere with the absorption of nutrients, and Maté should not be used in large amounts (many times the recommended dosage), as it is a potent stimulant.

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Mayapple
is a
strong and powerful purgative
that has been used historically and primarily to regulate bowel and liver function. It is believed to be a strong stimulant that efficiently
cleanses and removes waste products from the body
, and has been used to treat constipation, jaundice and other disorders associated with waste product buildup. Native Americans also used Mayapple to remove warts and expel worms from the intestines.

Plant Description:

Mayapple is a perennial plant that is native to and grows abundantly in North America and is sometimes called Mandrake, but should not be mistaken for European Mandrake (
Mandragora officinarum
- a poisonous herb of the nightshade family), and Mayapple thrives in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil in woodlands and clearings in sheltered semi-shade.

It is an ornamental plant with a single, forked stem that is topped by two umbrella-like leaves and a solitary, waxy, white flower dropping from the fork of the stem.

After the flower blooms in May, it then produces a pulpy, lemon-yellow berry that ripens in July and August, and that fruit is the only part of the plant that is not poisonous and may be eaten (but it is rather tasteless).

The plant usually grows in patches and may reach a height of eighteen inches, but young leaves may be damaged by frost. In the autumn, the roots are collected, dried and crushed into powder, and the powdered rhizomes (roots) are used as a potent purgative.

History:

This application was well-known to Native Americans long before it was "rediscovered" in conventional American medicine and listed in the
United States Pharmacopoeia
from 1820 to 1926. Native Americans used minute doses as a purgative, emetic, liver tonic and vermifuge (to destroy and expel worms), and for topical application in removing warts. The Menominee tribe used it on plants and potato crops as an effective insecticide, a use that is now being studied extensively in laboratories. It is an acrid, caustic herb with an unpleasant smell, and because it is so potent, it is not advisable for self-medication in specific applications; therefore, it is always recommended that one should seek an experienced health care provider when using this herb. Some of the constituents in Mayapple are lignins (including the most important, podophyllotoxin) and resin (podophyllin).

Medical Uses:

Mayapple has mainly been used (in controlled dosage) as a very potent purgative cathartic, a strong laxative that causes rapid, watery evacuation of the intestines and bowels. It is said to aid bowel complaints, such as constipation and other disturbances, due to sluggish action. It is considered an alterative, or agent that cleanses and stimulates the efficient removal of waste products from the system, while at the same time altering and improving the course of an ailment.

Mayapple is said to aid in liver complaints. As a cholagogue, it has been used to stimulate the production and flow of bile (which also aids in the digestive process), and has a reputation for supporting liver function. Some say it has no equal when used for liver ailments and has been used in cases of jaundice, biliousness and for the removal of body obstructions. The eliminative properties of Mayapple (both in the bowel and liver) make it effective for a number of complaints marked by accumulation of waste products in the system (including arthritic and skin problems).

Mayapple is also considered a vermifuge, an agent that destroys and expels worms from the intestinal tract.

Used externally, Mayapple is said to be effective in wart removal, especially helping venereal warts, and the root is also said to possess antiviral properties.

There is a derivative in Mayapple called podophyllotoxin (the agent responsible for removing warts), and recent studies have shown some promising results for its use as a possible anticancer and antitumor substance, which may be used in treating human cancers. In tests, it has been found to stimulate the immune system while suppressing lymph cells and appears to be more toxic to leukemia cells than normal cells. Thus far it is too severe for the digestive tract for practical purposes, but a synthetic derivative is being used in Europe in chemotherapy (trademarked
Vepeside
) for lung and testicle cancers.

Dosages:
Take one (1) to two (2) capsule, one (1) time each day with water at mealtimes.

Precautions:
Pregnant and nursing women should
never
use Mayapple. This herb should be used with great caution (it is
always
advisable to use it in consultation with a physician), and it is subject to restrictions in many countries. It should never be taken in large amounts, as an overdose would likely be fatal. It is not considered safe as a "food" by the FDA.

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Suffering from headache, fever, arthritic and joint pain?  Rather than reach for aspirin, why not try
Meadowsweet
instead?  It is the
natural version of aspirin without the digestive upsets
and bleeding that may accompany the synthetic product.  It is even said to soothe digestive upsets, as well as the pains and aches of inflammatory ailments.