Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

It’s Not Just for Pizza

Fast facts: soothes coughs, aids digestion

Rumor has it that oregano didn’t become a popular seasoning in the United States until after World War II, when soldiers who’d been stationed in the Mediterranean returned home with a penchant for pizza. Whether that’s true or not, this pungent herb has been around for centuries, and many of its early uses were medicinal rather than culinary. The ancient Greeks made poultices from the leaves and used them to treat sores and aching muscles. Traditional Chinese doctors have used oregano for centuries to relieve fever, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and itchy skin. In Europe, the herb is still used to improve digestion and soothe coughs.

Little contemporary research has been done on the medical uses of oregano. The work that has been done shows that this herb contains two essential components, thymol and carvacol, which are also found in another herb, thyme.

Thymol can be used to help loosen phlegm in the lungs, according to Norman R. Farnsworth, Ph.D., director of the Program for Collaborative Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In Germany, where herbal medicine is popular, syrups containing thymol are frequently prescribed for even the most serious kinds of coughs. In the United States, you’re most likely to find thymol in cough remedies such as Vicks Menthol Cough Drops and in topical cough and cold products such as Vicks VapoRub.

The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs also help unknot muscles in the digestive tract. So there’s some scientific basis for using this herb as a digestive aid, Dr. Farnsworth says. Oregano also has a reputation as a menstruation promoter. “Pregnant women may safely use this herb as a seasoning, but they should avoid taking large amounts,” Dr. Farnsworth warns.

For a warm, spicy tea that can settle the stomach or soothe a cough, use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water. Let it steep for ten minutes.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Oats (Avena sativa)

Parts used and where grown: The common oat used in herbal supplements and foods is derived from wild species that have since been cultivated. For herbal supplements, the green or rapidly dried aerial parts of the plant are harvested just before reaching full flower. Many herbal texts refer to using the fruits (seeds) or green tops. Although some herb texts discuss oat straw, there is little medicinal action in this part of the plant. Oats are now grown worldwide.

In what conditions might oats be supportive?

Â¥ anxiety

Â¥ eczema

¥ high cholesterol ¥ high triglycerides

Â¥ insomnia

Â¥ nicotine withdrawal

Historical or traditional use: In folk medicine as well as among current herbalists, oats are used to treat nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and weakness of the nerves. A tea made from oats was thought to be useful in rheumatic conditions and to treat water retention. A tincture of the green tops of oats was also used to help with withdrawal from tobacco addiction.1 Oats were often used in baths to treat insomnia and anxiety as well as a variety of skin conditions, including burns and eczema.

Active constituents: The fruits (seeds) contain alkaloids, such as gramine and avenine, as well as saponins, such as avenacosides A and B.2 The seeds are also rich in iron, manganese, and zinc. The straw is high in silica. Oat alkaloids are believed to account for oatsÕ relaxing effect. It should be noted that this action of oats continues to be debated in Europe; the Commission E Monographs do not endorse this herb as a sedative.3 However, an alcohol-based tincture of the fresh plant has proved useful in cases of nicotine withdrawal.

How much should I take? Oats can be eaten as a morning breakfast cereal. A tea can be made from a heaping U.S. tablespoonful (30 grams) of oats brewed with 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water; after cooling and straining, the tea can be drunk several times a day or shortly before going to bed. As a tincture, oats are often taken at 3-5 ml three times per day. Encapsulated or tableted products can be used in the amount of 1-4 grams per day. A soothing bath to ease irritated skin can be made by running the bath water through a sock containing several tablespoons of oats.

Are there any side effects or interactions? Oats are not associated with any adverse effects, although those with gluten sensitivity (celiac disease) should use oats with caution.

References:

1. Weiss RF. Herbal Medicine. Gothenburg, Sweden: Ab Arcanum, 1988, 287&endash;8. 2. Mills SY. Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Middlesex, UK: Viking Arcana, 1991, 510&endash;12. 3. Wichtl M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1994, 96&endash;8.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Nettles, Urtica spp.

MEDICINAL: The plant is used for treating high blood pressure, gout, PMS, rheumatism, and ending diarrhea, scurvy, liver and prostate problems. Externally it is used as a compress to treat neuralgia and arthritis. It is a very high source of digestible iron. It also treats anemia, fatigue, edema, menstrual difficulties, eczema, enlarged prostate (especially when combined with Saw Palmetto), urinary tract problems, hay fever and allergies. It is very supportive during pregnancy. Use the infusion as a hair rinse to treat dandruff and to stimulate hair growth.

RELIGIOUS: Sprinkle nettle around the room to protect it. It is also burned during ceremonies for exorcism. Stuffed in a poppet and sent back to the sender of a curse or bad spell, it will end the negativity. Nettles gathered before sunrise and fed to cattle is said to drive evil spirits from them.

GROWING: As nettle is considered a bothersome weed, it is best to purchase this herb from a store. The spines on a nettle plant can cause painful stinging, so it is not a good idea to include it in your herbal garden.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Myrrh (Commiphora molmol specifically, but also C. africana, C. erythracea, C. madagascariensis, C. myrrha, and C. schimperi)

Myrrh

Myrrh (Commiphora molmol specifically, but also C. africana, C. erythracea, C. madagascariensis, C. myrrha, and C. schimperi) in the torchwood family (Burseraceae) are perennial trees and shrubs with gray-white bark, native to Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.1,2,3 The Commiphora species exude a resin or gum, also called myrrh, either naturally or from incisions made in the bark, that is collected for medicinal and consumer use.1,2,3

History and Traditional Use

Myrrh gum has been used in Middle Eastern medicine for treatment of infected wounds and digestive and bronchial complaints for over a thousand years. 4 It was also used as an embalming agent in the Middle East and Africa.4 It is mentioned in the earliest Jewish and Christian holy texts, and is a primary ingredient in incense used for religious rituals.5 Myrrh has been used as a stimulant, antiseptic, to prevent spasms, to induce menstrual flow, and to stimulate digestion.1 It has been used for many conditions such as cancer, leprosy, ulcers, sore throat, coughs, asthma, foul breath, gum disease, and loose teeth. From the seventh century forward, myrrh has been used in Chinese medicine for bleeding hemorrhoids, menstrual difficulties, sores, tumors, and arthritic pain.1

Modern Medicinal Use

The topical use of myrrh is approved by the German Commission E for minor inflammations of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat.6 A tincture of myrrh is used in many dental remedies, mouthwashes and ointments.7 The British Herbal Compendium lists myrrh as beneficial in treating sore throat and tonsillitis, as a mouthwash for ulcers and gum disease, and externally for skin inflammations.8 It is reported to have antimicrobial activities as well as astringent properties on mucous membranes.1 In Saudi Arabia and eastern Africa, myrrh is used as an anti-inflammatory and rheumatism treatment.9 In France, the topical use is approved for nasal congestion caused by the common cold, and infections of the mouth and throat.10

Modern Consumer Use

Myrrh is used as an astringent in many mouthwashes and gargles.1 The oil is a fragrance component in soaps, detergents, perfumes, and creams. Myrrh can be found in balms to treat chapped lips, and in products used externally for wounds, hemorrhoids, and sores. Myrrh is used as a fragrance and fixative in cosmetics, and as a flavoring component in foods and beverages.1

References

1 Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley-Interscience; 1996.

2 Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.

3 Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler’s Honest Herbal. 4nd ed. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Herbal Press; 2000.

4 Bown D. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Their Uses. New York: DK Publishing, Inc. 1995.

5 Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1979.

6 Blumenthal M et al. The Complete German Commission E Monographs&emdash;Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998

7 Wichtl M, ed., Brinckmann JA, Lindenmaier MP, trans. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers; 2004.

8 Bradley PR, ed. British Herbal Compendium. Vol 1. Bournemouth: British Herbal Medicine Association; 1992.

9 Iwu MM. Handbook of African Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press; 1990.

10 Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, editors. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Austin, TX: American Botanical Council; Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000.