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 (78 page)

Medical Uses:

Red-Root Sage is widely used in the Orient for supporting cardiovascular health and is now gaining popularity in the West for its heart-healthy properties. The isolated chemical, tanshinone, is said to increase the force of heartbeats, while slowing the heart rate and it works as a vasodilator, causing blood vessels to relax and increasing blood circulation. This action inhibits platelet aggregation (clotting), thereby reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. The tanshinones reduce stasis of the blood (stagnation) and also helps to ease the heart pain of angina pectoris.

Red-Root Sage is said to promote healthy liver function and may help to prevent liver damage caused by alcohol, drugs or diseases. Some studies suggest that Red-Root Sage may provide benefits for treating liver diseases such as cirrhosis, fibrosis and chronic hepatitis.

By reducing stasis (stagnation in the blood), Red-Root Sage helps to purify the blood; and detoxified blood is thought to be very beneficial for treating many ailments, including skin problems, such as acne, abscesses and boils. The concept of eliminating stasis to generate new blood simply means that in order for new blood to be generated, old, stagnant and impure blood that is not vital must be removed. This theory of vitalizing blood has been applied to the treatment of bone marrow deficiencies.

The isolated tanshinones are unique to Red-Root Sage and have been shown to inhibit bacterial growth, reduce fever, diminish inflammation and aid urinary excretion of toxins.

A relatively new area of study for blood stasis concerns the process of ageing: In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is thought that detoxified blood will help nourish the kidneys, liver and spleen; and conversely, stagnant blood results in contraction of ligaments, withering of the flesh and overall reduction in vitality, mental function and health. During the twentieth century, possibly due to changes in the environment, diet and lifestyle (as well as progress in medical research into ageing), it is generally agreed that disorders associated with ageing additionally involve blood stasis. It is interesting to note that this was an idea first presented by Xu Lingtai, a famous physician of the Qing Dynasty who wrote during the mid-eighteenth century that the blood of the elderly did not flow very well, thus creating other health difficulties; however, Xu's concept did not get much attention for another two hundred years.

Red-Root Sage has shown some antiviral and antioxidant activity in several laboratory studies.  Salvianolate-B, recently isolated from Red-Root Sage by medical researchers at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, was determined to have powerful antioxidant actions in vitro, and the salvianolic acid was shown to be the strongest of Red-Root Sage's constituents in protecting heart mitochondria from free radical damage.
  Because these are ongoing studies, no conclusions have yet been established.

Precautions:

Pregnant and nursing women should not use Red-Root Sage, nor should those who take prescription blood thinning medications (Coumadin, Plavix, aspirin, etc.). Those who are allergic to members of the mint family (thyme, basil, sage, marjoram, etc.) should avoid this herb. You should not use Red-Root Sage if you take prescription medications or have high blood pressure or heart or blood vessel disease, nor should it be used for prolonged periods (preferably one month on and one month off), and it is advisable to use this herb only under the care of a knowledgeable health care provider. Inform your physician or dentist prior to any surgical or dental procedure if you are taking this herb.

Dosages:

Take one (1) capsule, two (2) times each day with water at mealtimes.

* * * * *

The Red Root
stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas
and has a profound effect on the lymph system
, (draining wastes);
 the liver
(decreasing the harmful effects of fats);
 the spleen
(reducing chronic enlargement);
and the respiratory system
(relieving asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, colds, tonsillitis and sinusitis).

Medical Uses:

For hundreds of years, Red Root has been used in Russia and North America for the treatment of rheumatism and various skin ailments such as warts, eczema, nasal polyps, and skin cancer. In folk medicine it is used to treat menstrual hemorrhage, nosebleeds, bleeding piles, hemorrhoids, old ulcers and capillary ruptures from vomiting or coughing.

Today Red Root is still used to treat nosebleeds, heavy menstruation, and hemorrhoids. This herb stimulates lymph and inter-tissue fluid circulation; therefore, it can be effective in treating sore throats, enlarged lymph nodes, and for shrinking non-fibrous cysts. It is also an emetic and expectorant and can be used to treat asthma and bronchitis. Red Root is most effective in soothing headaches and inflammation from blood fats after a heavy, late evening meal. Some say though that Red Root can even help reduce and limit the deposition of dental plaque.

Plant Description:

Red Root is a half-hardy shrub that is native to North America. The
Ceanothus
genus encompasses over fifty species of small trees or shrubs that are distributed throughout North America and as far south as Guatemala. The majority of the species are evergreen, but the eastern species have adapted to cold winters and are deciduous. The shrubby tree has a smooth bark that produces erect branches, bearing alternate, downy leaves and numerous small, ornamental white flowers that bloom in summertime.

The flowers are followed by fruits (seed vessels), and the entire plant generally reaches a height of five feet. It can be found in dry woodlands, barrens, open plains or sandy, rocky clearings or hillsides and thrives in well-drained soil in sun. It dislikes alkaline conditions but will tolerate poor, dry soils. The name, Red Root, is derived from the plant's large, red root, which is the medicinal part, and it is dug and partially harvested in late autumn or early spring, when the red color is deepest, and then dried for use in herbal medicines. Red Root is a long, cylindrical, thick, irregularly contorted and branching root, with both a simple or branched head and knotty tubercles. To the taste, Red Root is astringent and bitter, but has no odor (although some claim it is peach-like). In Canada, the root has been occasionally used to dye wool a cinnamon color.

The leaves are also astringent and slightly bitter and have been used as a substitute for tea, to which they have a strong resemblance when dried, both in taste and fragrance.

Red Root's common name, Jersey Tea, evolved, because the leaves were used as a tea substitute during the American War of Independence. The plant also has a long history of medicinal use. The Cherokee people of North America used it to treat skin cancer and venereal sores. Red Root is a bitter, astringent herb, and some of its constituents include tannins, a soft resin, gum, volatile substance, lignin, a bitter extract, ceanothic-, ceanothetric-, malonic-, orthophosphoric- oxalic-, pyrophosphoric- and succinic acids, as well as a principle called ceanothine.

Medical Uses:

Red Root is a bitter, astringent, cleansing herb that has traditionally been used to support the lymph system. It is said to have a profound, stimulating influence on the lymphatic system, helping to drain the lymph glands, and increasing its ability to carry waste tissue away from infected areas. It has been shown to increase transport of nutrients from the blood across the capillary cells to the lymph and generally stimulate fluid drainage from congested areas.

As an astringent, Red Root's tannins act to shrink tissues, and these actions help to reduce abnormal uterine bleeding, nosebleeds, hemorrhoids and diarrhea. It is said to increase blood clotting, prevent secretion of fluids and reduce mild bleeding from broken skin capillaries, which may be of help in cases of varicose veins.

Red Root is thought to reduce liver congestion. Because it stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas, the herb acts to cleanse the liver, decrease the negative effects of fats in the blood and tone blood protein. Red Root is also believed to improve circulation to the liver and reduces an enlarged liver.

As an expectorant, Red Root helps to loosen and expel phlegm from the lungs. It is said to both decrease the thickness, as well as increase the fluidity of mucus in the lungs and bronchial tubes. Because it stimulates fluid drainage from congested areas, it is used to alleviate the discomforts of asthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, consumption, colds, tonsillitis, diphtheria, sinusitis and other upper respiratory tract illnesses.

Red Root is said to have a special influence upon the spleen, to which it is a stimulant, and is thought to relieve enlargement of that organ, particularly when caused by "mono" or fever.

Red Root exhibits antispasmodic properties that relax spasms in skeletal muscle or smooth muscle. Further acting as a relaxant, its sedative qualities are thought to help relieve temporary depression.

Red Root is believed to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, and because it contains triterpenes and flavonoids, the herb is said to make the body environment less hospitable to invaders. It has been used for such viral and bacterial conditions as mumps, mononucleosis, and rocky mountain fever and cat scratch fevers.  In recent studies, Red Root's ceanothic and ceanothetric acids have demonstrated anti-microbial activity and growth-inhibitory effects against selected oral pathogens, such as
S. mutans
,
Actinomyces viscosus
, and
P. gingivalis
.  It has also been used in the treatment of tonsil inflammations and sore throats.

Its antibacterial and antiviral properties have made it useful in cases of gonorrhea, gleet (a urethral discharge, either of mucus or pus, commonly seen in the form of gonorrheal urethritis), leucorrhoea (a whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge) and syphilis (archaic use).

Treatments:

Used externally, Red Root is useful in mouthwashes and gargles to relieve sore throats and tonsillitis.

Precautions:

Pregnant and nursing women should not use Red Root without consulting with a health care provider. This herb may interfere with absorption of iron and other minerals and is best when not taken at the same time. Those who take blood-thinning medications should consult their physicians before using Red Root. It is important to note that Red Root is NOT Bloodroot (sometimes also called Redroot), which is an entirely different plant
(Sanguinaria canadensis)
of another species and considered unsafe.

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

* * * * *

Red Wine Extract
is said to be very beneficial in
supporting cardiovascular health
 by strengthening blood vessels, increasing blood circulation, lowering cholesterol and reducing platelet aggregation (clots) in the blood.  It is also considered
one of the most powerful antioxidants
 known to exist that helps to
combat free radical damage and enhance immunity
.

Medical Uses:


        
Antioxidant protection


        
Source Naturals RED WINE EXTRACT WITH RESVERATROL provides the heart-health benefits of red wine without the alcohol, sulfites, headaches or excess calories. Worldwide research has shown that the components of red wine, including polyphenols and anthocyanidins, support the cardiovascular system by promoting healthy blood flow and strengthening capillaries.


        
Provides antioxidant protection, promotes cholesterol wellness, and balances the immune system.

Plant Descriptions:

Red Wine Extract
originated in the Mediterranean regions of southern Europe and Middle East, thriving in deep, moist, humus-rich, neutral-to-alkaline soil in sun and warm climates; and the grape's hardiness varies according to the cultivars.

History:

Grapes were first cultivated near the Caspian Sea, and their use as food and drink had spread throughout the Mediterranean world before
The Bible
 was written. They were cultivated in Egypt over four thousand years ago, and even the ancient Greeks knew that wine possessed wonderful health benefits. Wine is the fermented juice of grapes, and it has been used in various cultures for almost five thousand years. 

Egyptian records dating from 2500 B.C. refer to wines, and there are frequent references to wine in the Old Testament. Wine was also used by early Minoan and Etruscan civilizations, and we can thank the Roman army for introducing the rootstocks and winemaking throughout Europe as they created an expanding Roman Empire. Centuries later the role of wine for sacramental use in Christian churches helped to maintain the industry after the fall of the Roman Empire. Modern science has now confirmed the health benefits included in occasional Red Wine consumption, and although you may not be enjoying the taste of this wondrous gift of nature, you will enjoy a convenient way to enjoy its many healthy benefits (without having to relinquish the keys to your car) in this easy supplement. Red Wine Extracts (not white) possess high concentrations of proanthocyanidins that confer high antioxidant and free radical benefits, as well as phenolic and polyphenolic compounds (including catechin, quercetin, resveratrol,
et al)
  that combat platelet aggregation (clotting) in the blood.