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 (93 page)

Applied topically, the oil extracted from Wormwood acts as an anti-inflammatory that is used as a liniment to relieve pain and sore muscles. It is useful for healing wounds, skin ulcers, blemishes and insect bites.

Wormwood may also be used as an insect repellent when sprayed on organic gardens or when prepared as a sachet to keep moths from clothing.

Dosages:
Take one (1) capsule, two (2) to three (3) times each day for two weeks. Then discontinue use for at least two weeks before resuming another 2-3 week regimen.

Precautions:
Wormwood should not be used by nursing mothers nor taken during pregnancy, as it is a uterine stimulant and can cause spontaneous abortion. Do not overuse; it may be habit forming with long-term use, and prolonged use may cause nausea, vertigo and insomnia. Do not exceed recommended dosage (many times the recommended amount).  Wormwood should never be given to children.

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Yarrow
has been used for thousands of years as a healer of wounds, helping to control hemorrhages and infection. The herb is also thought to have a wonderful tonic effect on the gastrointestinal system (easing indigestion, flatulence, and dyspepsia) and act as a
system purifier
that rids the body of toxins through the skin and urinary tract.

Plant Description:

Yarrow is a hardy, herbaceous, creeping perennial that grows everywhere - in grass meadows, pastures, and by roadsides - in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, thriving in well-drained soil in full sun and growing to a height of three feet. One of the plant's common names, Milfoil, refers to its "thousand leaves," which grow alternately on an erect central stem that bears white or pink flower heads with yellow centers.

Yarrow is an extremely potent plant; one small leaf will speed up the decomposition of a wheelbarrow-full of raw compost, and Yarrow's root secretions will frequently activate the disease-resistance of nearby plants in a garden.  Moreover, it is said to intensify the medicinal actions of other herbs.  As a garden plant, Yarrow is known to attract beneficial insects such as ladybugs, and the leaves, stems and flowers are used in herbal medicine as an aromatic, cooling, bitter astringent herb with powerful healing qualities. 

History:

Since the dawn of man, Yarrow appears to have been used as a healer.
  An archaeological excavation unearthed a 40- to 60,000-year-old Neanderthal, who carried Yarrow, as well as other herbs, proving its historical value.  Yarrow has long been associated with divination and clairvoyance and was considered "sacred" to the Druids, who used the stems to foretell the weather, and in China, the stems were employed to see into the future.  It was even thought to be associated with evil and earned further common names, such as Devil's Plaything and Bad Man's Plaything, among others, and was used in casting spells and as a mild sedative.  Historically, Yarrow was employed mainly to stop the flow of blood and treat wounds. The botanical name,
Achillea
, refers to the Greek legend of Achilles, who used Yarrow in an ointment during the Trojan War to stop the flow of blood in the wounds of his soldiers.  (It is a wonder that Achilles ever had a vulnerable heel at all, while using Yarrow!)  In 1653, the great English herbalist, Nicholas Culpepper, recommended Yarrow for its painkilling properties as a "profitable herb in cramps and pain."  In North America, Native American warriors, including the Utes, used Yarrow to treat cuts and wounds, and the Zunis considered it a remedy for burns.  The Shakers employed Yarrow as a treatment for a variety of ailments, from hemorrhages to flatulence.  Yarrow was included in the
United States Pharmacopoeia
from 1863 to 1882 as a tonic stimulant and as a means for controlling menstruation.  Traditional herbalists in Europe, China and India have used Yarrow to stanch minor bleeding and treat wounds and inflammation (especially in the intestinal and female reproductive tracts); and today, it is mainly used for colds, flu and for its positive effects on the circulatory, digestive and urinary systems.  Some of the constituents (over forty have been isolated) in Yarrow include essential oils (including the anti-inflammatory, azulene), achilleic, formic and salicylic acids, resin, tannin, gum, sterols, flavonoids, bitters, coumarins, nitrates, phosphates, potash and lime chlorides, and vitamins A, C, E, F and K.

Medical Uses:

Yarrow is a stimulating tonic for the digestive tract.
  Traditionally, the herb was used as a "stomachic" or agent that strengthens the stomach and digestive functions. The presence of the bitter principles, azulenes and sesquiterpene, stimulates the production of gastric juices, helping to speed the processing and elimination of foods.  Yarrow has been used to improve the appetite and ease gastrointestinal inflammation, flatulence, dyspepsia and indigestion.  Moreover, Yarrow encourages bile flow and is thought to balance the function of the liver and has a positive influence on secretions produced throughout the alimentary canal (the mucous-membrane-lined tube of the digestive system, extending from the mouth to the anus, including the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and intestines).

As an antispasmodic, Yarrow is believed to soothe smooth-muscle spasms (also helping to improve certain gastrointestinal conditions).
  It relieves general cramping and menstrual cramps.

Yarrow is believed to help purify the system.
  As a diuretic, the herb promotes the release of toxic wastes (including uric acid) through increased urine flow, which is also helpful in cases of many urinary problems.  As a strong, soothing diaphoretic, Yarrow naturally increases the body's temperature, opens skin pores and stimulates free perspiration, thereby increasing the elimination of toxins through the skin. By inducing sweat, the herb also helps to lower fever, which is particularly useful for feverish illnesses, especially colds, flu and measles. Yarrow helps to purify the blood of morbid waste material, which must be eliminated in sickness, and Yarrow's tonic action is most invigorating and will greatly assist nature's own measures to remove congestion and disease.

As an astringent, Yarrow has been used to treat diarrhea, especially mucous diarrhea, hemorrhoids and excessive menstruation and bladder conditions, particularly relating to involuntary urination in children.

Yarrow may be good for cardiovascular health. It is thought to lower blood pressure, help hypertension and protect against thrombosis after a stroke or heart attack.  It is also believed to relax peripheral blood vessels and be good for thrombotic conditions, whereby a blood clot blocks a blood vessel or is formed in a heart cavity.

Treatment:

Considered an anti-inflammatory with pain-relieving qualities, Yarrow has been used to help ease the discomforts of rheumatism, gout and arthritis, and provide relief for menstrual pain and headache. Modern research confirms the historical use of Yarrow as a pain reliever for many conditions.  Sterols and triterpenes stop the inflammatory processes, restore circulation and accelerate healing.  These compounds stop the formation of enzymes for chemical reactions that cause inflammation and pain. The sesquiterpene lactones stop the action of pain-provoking hormones called prostaglandins.

Yarrow has been used for centuries as a haemostatic, an agent that controls or stops the flow of blood.
  It has been used internally to control hemorrhaging from the lungs and the bowels, among other applications.  Externally, the herb has been a reliable remedy for healing wounds and arresting the blood flow from shaving cuts, nosebleeds, etc.  Because it is believed to be so effective and quick when used in this manner, it is always wise to clean a cut first (before applying Yarrow), because the herb may begin the healing process while the dirt and infection are still within the wound.  Of course, all deep or infected wounds should be treated by a doctor.

In recent tests, Yarrow demonstrated antibiotic and antibacterial qualities that appeared to kill many kinds of bacteria found on human skin and destroyed pain-causing infection.
  It was also effective against yeast infections and microbial infections and boils.

When used externally, Yarrow makes an excellent tonic lotion for oily skin (with eruptions), inflamed eyes, ulcers and wounds, and is a fine addition to a relaxing bath and steam facial.

Precautions:
Pregnant or nursing women should not use Yarrow, as it is a uterine stimulant, nor should women with heavy periods or pelvic inflammatory disease. Continued or long-term use of Yarrow may cause skin irritation and/or allergic reactions. If so, discontinue its use. Yarrow may produce photosensitivity. If using Yarrow to treat wounds, be sure to clean the affected area first, as the herb can stop blood flow so quickly that it may seal in dirt or other contaminants.  People with gallstones should avoid its use.  Yarrow may cause severe allergic skin rashes when applied topically.

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Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. Pink eye usually makes you feel like you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you can't remove. Your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from the discharge coming from your eyes. The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as well as you did before.

Swelling causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, resulting in a pink or red spread to the whites of your eyes. Pink eye and red eye are conditions commonly used to refer to all types of conjunctivitis.

Pink eye is an irritating infection to have to experience; it hardly ever affects your sight.  Pink eye can be contagious; it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.

Symptoms

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Redness in one or both eyes

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Itchiness in one or both eyes

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Blurred vision

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Sensitivity to light

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A rough feeling in one or both eyes

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A discharge in one or both eyes that forms a crust during the night

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Tearing

Causes

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Viruses

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Bacteria

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Allergies

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A chemical splash in the eye

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A foreign object in the eye

Most cases of pink eye are caused by viruses. In newborns, pink eye may result from a partly opened tear duct.

Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis may affect one or both eyes. Viral conjunctivitis usually creates a watery or mucous discharge. Bacterial conjunctivitis often produces a thicker, yellow-green discharge and may be associated with a respiratory infection or with a sore throat. Both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are related with colds. Both viral and bacterial types are very contagious. Adults and children alike can get both of these types of pink eye. Bacterial conjunctivitis is more common in children than it is in adults.

Diagnosis

Your doctor may take a sample of eye secretions from the conjunctiva for laboratory analysis to find out which form of infection you have and to decide on the best way to treat it.

If you have a young infant with recurrent pink eye or persistent eye tearing, your child may have a blocked tear duct. Your child's pediatrician may closely monitor the situation to see if the tear duct opens on its own, or you may be referred to a specialist.

Treatment

Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic eye drops if the infection is bacterial, and the infection should clear within several days of starting treatment. Antibiotic eye ointment, in place of eye drops, is sometimes prescribed for treating bacterial pink eye in children.

An ointment is often easier to administer to an infant or young child than are eye drops. With either form of medicine, you should notice an improvement within one to two days. Make sure that you use the medication for the entire time your doctor prescribes it, to prevent repetition of the infection.

Viral conjunctivitis can't be treated with antibiotic eye drops or ointment. Like a common cold, you can use an over-the-counter remedy to relieve some symptoms, but the virus just has to run its course. You may notice the condition getting worse in the first three to five days. After that, you should see that the pink eye will slowly clear up. It may take up to two to three weeks from the time you were infected for the virus to go away.