Dong Quai, also known as Chinese Angelica, is widely cultivated for medicinal purposes in China. Dong Quai also grows wild in Asia.

The most widely available therapeutic form is derived from the root of A. sinensis, a plant with hollow stems that have clusters of white flowers.

In the late 1800’s, Dong Quai became well loved in Europe as a herbal treatment for gynecological problems. Dong Quai has also been used for centuries in Korean and Japanese herbal medicine.

Generally, Dong Quai is used to keep the uterus healthy and to regulate the menstrual cycle.

This herbal Medicine is also believed to widen blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow to various organs.

Migraine headaches associated with the menstrual cycle is also alleviated by the use of Dong Quai.

Using Dong Quai will help with correcting abnormal menstrual bleeding, easing menstrual cramps and alleviating symptoms of PMS. Dong Quai has also been used to reduce menopausal hot flushes and other symptoms associated with menopause.

This herb is also rich in Vitamin B12, helping to build red blood cells.

Dong Quai contains coumarins, which is a group of natural chemicals that dilates blood vessels, increases blood flow to the uterus and also stimulates the central nervous system.

Some herbalists believe that Dong Quai contain plant oestrogens, which are weaker than the oestrogens produced by the human body. These plant oestrogens bind with oestrogen receptors in human cells, minimizing the negative effects of a woman’s own oestrogen, which include an increased risk of breast cancer.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Due to its anticoagulant and anti-platelet effects, Dong Quai should not be used by patients with bleeding disorders or patients that are using blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin.

Increased sun sensitivity may occur and prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultra-violet light should be avoided when using Dong Quai.

Dong Quai may have laxative properties and could also cause bloating.

Dong Quai should not be used during pregnancy and if a woman is breastfeeding due to the hormones that this herb contains.

Studies have shown that Dong Quai can interact with birth control pills rendering it ineffective or by reducing the effectiveness.

For PMS, menstrual irregularities, menstrual cramps or hot flushes a dosage of 600mg daily is recommended.

Use of Dong Quai with other menstrual-regulating herbs such as Chasteberry and Siberian ginseng is also recommended.

For PMS, use Dong Quai on the days that you are not menstruating. For hot flushes use it daily. The use of Dong Quai should be continued for a period of two months before deciding if it has any effect.

Powdered or dried roots as well as tinctures are readily available.

Tea Tree oil is obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of the plant Melaleuca alternifolia.

This species of plant only grows in Australia and is different from the Camellia species used to make green teas.

The leaves from the tea plant is first steamed and then rolled and dried. Steaming the leaves kill enzymes which would promote fermenting. The lack of fermenting gives Green Tea its unique flavour and preserves the naturally present anti-oxidants.

With the increased use of antibiotics after World War II, Tea Tree oil was used less, but recently interest in it has been revived.

The antiseptic properties of Tea Tree oil are especially effective in treating cuts, scrapes and insect bites and stings.

Tea Tree oil also promotes healing of wounds, helps prevent infections and can even minimize scarring.

The anti-fungal benefits of Tea Tree oil include fighting the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and some nail infections. Studies have shown that Tea Tree oil offers protection against Pityrosporum ovale, a dandruff-causing fungus.

Tea Tree oil has been proven to be an effective acne treatment as it reduces inflammation and causes less irritation than over-the-counter skin preparations.

Tea Tree oil may also be effective against Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis, two of the organisms that cause vaginal infections.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Minor skin irritations may occur in some people, and if used undiluted it can cause redness and itching.

Never take Tea Tree oil internally as it can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting.

Safety of use in pregnant and lactating women has not been established.

As Tea Tree oil is generally used topically, there are no known interactions with other medications. Do not mix Tea Tree oil with any other topical preparations prescribed by your health care practitioner.

To treat athlete’s foot, skin wounds or nail infections, apply a drop or two of pure, undiluted Tea Tree oil to the affected areas two to three times a day. Tea Tree oil creams and lotions can also be used.

Mix one or two drops of Tea Tree oil with aqueous cream to treat acne and apply once daily to the affected areas, taking care to avoid any contact with eyes or mucous membranes.

When using soaps, shampoos and skin-care products, make sure that it contains a sufficient amount of Tea Tree oil as some products contain so small of the oil that they are not effective.

Ginger is native to parts of China and India, as well as other tropical areas such as Jamaica. Ginger is the dried or fresh root of a tropical member of the Ginger family.

Ginger has been used as a herbal medicine for thousands of years to relieve a variety of digestive problems and stomach ailments.

Ginger works primarily in the digestive tract by boosting digestive fluids and neutralizing acids. Ginger can also increase bile secretion.

Ginger supplements can be used as a herbal remedy for flatulence.

Ginger is a safe alternative to anti-nausea medicine without the effects on the central nervous system that some over-the-counter medicines have such as sleepiness.

Several studies have shown that when taking Ginger before a surgical procedure, postoperative nausea and vomiting can be reduced.

In several studies conducted in Europe, Ginger was found to be effective in reducing and even eliminating the symptoms of seasickness.

Pregnant women can use Ginger as a safe herbal medicine for morning sickness, but this should only be done during the first two months of pregnancy.

In addition, Ginger also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. People with arthritis and severe joint pain have experienced significant relieve when using Ginger.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Studies done in Germany found that patients with gall bladder disease should avoid Ginger.

Patients undergoing chemotherapy should not take Ginger on an empty stomach as it will irritate the stomach lining.

Ginger has anti-coagulant properties and therefore should not be taken with other blood thinning medicines such as Warfarin or aspirin

Ginger is available in capsule, liquid, tincture and fresh or dried root form.

To prevent motion sickness, nausea and to relieve chronic pain, take 100 to 200mg of Ginger extract in pill form. Ginger tea can also be used several times a day.

For sore muscles and joints, Ginger oil mixed with another neutral oil can be massaged into the inflamed areas as needed to reduce inflammation.

Green Tea has been consumed throughout the ages in India, China, Japan and Thailand.

In traditional medicine, Green Tea was used as a diuretic and to promote longevity. In modern times, Green Tea is used as a powerful anti-oxidant, ridding the body of harmful chemicals.

The leaves from the tea plant is first steamed and then rolled and dried. Steaming the leaves kill enzymes which would promote fermenting. The lack of fermenting gives Green Tea its unique flavour and preserves the naturally present anti-oxidants.

The Green Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) grows throughout Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Studies have shown that the rate of certain types of cancer is lower among people who drink Green Tea, including breast, stomach and skin cancers.

Green Tea’s main anti-oxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-gallate) may be one of the most powerful anticancer compounds ever learned. This component of Green Tea protects cells against hurt, but remarkably does not hurt healthy cells.

Further benefits of Green Tea’s anti-oxidant properties include the prevention of coronary artery disease and the lowering of cholesterol.

Traditionally, Green Tea was used to control blood sugar in the body.

Green Tea is used to help in weight loss as it boosts the metabolism and burns stout. Many herbal weight loss products contain extracts of Green Tea.

Inflammation associated with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis may be reduced with the use of Green Tea.

Green Tea also contains fluoride which inhibits tooth decay.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

People who are sensitive to caffeine should take care when drinking Green Tea as it contains about 40mg of caffeine per cup.

As Green Tea contains such a high dose of caffeine, pregnant and lactating women should limit their consumption.

Green Tea and aspirin should not be taken together as both have anti-coagulant properties and can cause bleeding. Green Tea contains Vitamin K, which influences blood clotting and should not be taken if you are using blood thinning medication such as Warfarin.

Oral contraceptives increase the amount of time that caffeine stays in the body and could increase its stimulating properties.

If at any time you experience nausea, dizziness, tremors and heart palpitations after drinking Green Tea, you should limit your consumption.

You can get the benefits of Green Tea in capsule or tablet form, or by drinking several cups of Green Tea every day.

A sufficient dosage is 240 to 320mg of polyphenols (anti-oxidant.)

Take Green Tea supplements at meals with a full glass of water. Freshly brewed Green Tea can be taken on its own or with meals.

Feverfew is a member of the flower family that includes daisies and sunflowers.

Feverfew plants give off a strong, aromatic odor and in the Middle Ages this herbal plant was used as an insect repellant and an air purifier.

For centuries, Feverfew was used to relieve headaches, stomach ailments and menstrual irregularities. Feverfew’s popularity increased in Fantastic Britain in the 1980’s as an alternative to prescribed medicine for migraines.

Feverfew can decrease the intensity, duration and frequency of migraines. This herbal medicine can also prevent a headache becoming a migraine if taken at the onset of the headache.

Feverfew is also used to relieve the pain and inflammation of arthritis. Feverfew contains certain chemicals that are thought to prevent blood components called platelets from releasing inflammatory substances.

This herbal medicine also inhibits the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that can cause pain and inflammation. Excess prostaglandins cause menstrual cramps, therefore Feverfew is a well loved herb for women suffering from the discomfort of menstrual cramps.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

There have been reports of mouth sores, but this occurs only when chewing the fresh leaves of the Feverfew plant.

If a rash occurs after skin contact with the Feverfew plant, it is recommended that you do not use Feverfew internally, as it might cause a severe allergic reaction.

People using blood thinning medication such as Warfarin should not use Feverfew as this herb prevents the dilation of blood vessels, which will counteract the blood thinning medication.

If you have been taking Feverfew for more than a week, do not suddenly discontinue use as it might cause rebound headaches.

For migraine prevention, a dose of 250mg a day is required. Feverfew needs to be taken daily for an extended period of time to be effective and to prevent the return of migraines

Tags: aromatic odor, insect repellant, Medication overuse headache, blood thinning medication, herbal medications

Licorice was one of the first foods studied by the US National Cancer Institute”s experimental food programme.

Licorice is cultivated in Greece and Turkey and is a member of the pea family. The medicinal properties are in the roots which contain glycyrrhizin.

This herbal medicine is also used as a curing and flavouring agent in the tobacco industry.

The medicinal component of Licorice, glycyrrhizin, has been shown in several studies to have antiviral activity against the human immunodeficiency virus. (HIV)

Licorice is also beneficial for people suffering from respiratory problems because it fights the viruses that attack the respiratory tract. This herbal medicine relieves symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and it also helps to thin mucus.

Licorice is often used by dieticians to treat fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders affected by the body’s levels of cortisol, an adrenal hormone.

Studies have shown that Licorice is beneficial for hepatitis, combating liver infection and fighting the virus that triggers the disease.

Another form of Licorice, DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) is helpful in cases of heartburn, stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

People who suffer from high blood pressure should not take Licorice as this herbal medicine acts on the adrenal glands, increasing blood pressure.

Individuals consuming large amounts of Licorice can suffer from sodium and water retention.

A dose of 200mg Licorice three times a day is recommended for most disorders, but for digestive complaints, 380mg of DGL three times a day is recommended.

Studies have also indicated that Lysine could suppress genital herpes.

Use of Lysine as an alternative treatment to cold sores reduces the frequency of outbreaks and lesions heal quicker.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Lysine has small known side-effects as it is an amino acid that the human body needs.

Lysine should not be taken with milk or any foods that contain milk as it neutralizes the effects of Lysine.

Do not take Lysine if you are using any of the following anti-biotics: Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Amikacin, Kanamycin or Netilmicin.

Lysine is available in pill form and cream form. At the onset of an outbreak of cold sores, start with a dosage of 1000mg Lysine daily and as the condition improves, take a therapeutic dosage of 500mg daily.

Lysine cream can be applied topically to the affected areas to reduce the symptoms of painful outbreaks.

Ever since the ancient time, the Greeks and Romans have used St. John‘s wort for the treatment of mental and nerve disorders

This herbal plant is found in several locations, including Europe, West Africa, North Africa, the Americas and Australia.

There are several species of St. John‘s wort, but not all of these species can be used as herbal medicines.St. John’s wort angustifolia  is the most commonly used species for herbal remedies.

St. John’s wort is a shrub that has small clusters of yellow flowers.

In our modern times, St. John’s wort is most often used to treat mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and even sleeping disorders.

In several clinical studies, St. John’s wort has been as effective in the treatment of mild to moderate depression as tricyclic anti-depressants.

There appears to be fewer side effects when you have used this herbal remedy in place of tricyclic anti-depressants such as imipramine, amitriptyline, doxepin, desipramine, and nortriptyline.

St. John’s wort might also be an effective substitute for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

St. John’s wort appears to have a positive effect in assisting with a very wide range ailments, some of these are listed below

Certain bacterial infections can be treated using St. John’s wort as this herb has antibacterial properties.

St. John’s wort may help you if u suffer from premenstrual syndrome as St. John’s wort can help in relieving both the physical and mental problems that can accompany PMS. These include cramps, irritability, food craving and tender breasts.

If St. John’s wort is used as a topical treatment, it can help reduce pain and inflammation and will help treat minor wounds and burns and even help in the treatment of hemorrhoids.

Some Herbal experts recommended a tincture combining Ginkgo and St. John’s wort to treat brain inflammation such as caused by Viral Encephalitis.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

One of the most common side effects reported from using this herbal remedy is sensitivity to sun light.

Other common side effects can include anxiety, feelings of tiredness, dizziness, headaches, sexual dysfunction and gastro intestinal distress.

The most vital thing to remember when using St. John’s wort, is that this herbal medicine has a wide list of interactions with other drugs. Below is a few of the more commonly reported interactions.

Combining St. John’s wort with other anti depressants is not recommended and can result in a wide range of side effects and is really not recommended.

Many birth control pills have shown interactions with John’s wort and can be rendered ineffective or have their effectiveness decreased drastically.

Care also needs to be taken when using any of the following drugs as various interaction have been reported.

Certain HIV medications such as Indinavir, Anticoagulants such as Warfarin, organ rejection medication such as Cyclosporine and the heart medication Digoxin.

St. John’s wort is found in several different forms. You can use this herbal medicine as a pill or a tablet.

St. John’s wort is also available as a tincture and can also be brewed as a tea.

For the treatment of wounds or infection, you can use St. John’s wort as a ointment or cream.

Folk healers have used Dandelion for centuries for liver and digestive problems.

Dandelion is grown commercially in Europe and both the leaves and the roots are used for herbal remedies.

Dandelion is closely related to chicory and grows wild throughout much of the world. The plant forms a puffball of seeds that is dispersed by the wind or by children playing with the plant.

Bright yellow flowers are seen throughout the growing season, opening at daybreak and closing at dusk.

Dandelion is well known as a garden weed.

Dandelion increases the production and flow of bile (a digestive aid) from the liver and the gallbladder.

This increased flow of bile helps to treat such conditions as jaundice, gallstones and hepatitis.

In addition, Dandelion has a high content of the B vitamin choline, which assists in general liver health.

Dandelion is often mixed with other herbal medicines that boost liver function, such as milk thistle and black radish. These combinations are known as lipotropic or stout metabolizing supplements.

Because Dandelion improves liver function, this herbal remedy may also be effective in reducing the painful symptoms of endometriosis.

Dandelion enhances the ability of the liver to remove excess oestrogen from your body, thereby helping women to restore a healthy hormone balance.

The root of the Dandelion plant can be used a gentle laxative, so drinking Dandelion tea will provide gentle relief from constipation.

Dandelion also assists the liver to absorb iron from food or mineral supplements, thereby combating anaemia.

Dandelion tea is also useful as a diuretic, thus relieving water retention and bloating. In addition, Dandelion leaves are high in potassium, so using this herbal medicine as a diuretic is a excellent thought as your potassium levels will not be depleted.

Dandelion root is also used as an appetite stimulant because it is a bitter.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

Dandelion has no serious side effects but in large doses can cause a skin rash and stomach upsets. Discontinue use if any of these symptoms occur.

Dandelion should not be used during acute attacks of gallstones. Seek professional medical care for this condition.

If bile ducts are obstructed, Dandelion should not be used at all.

Safety of use in pregnant and lactating women has not been established.

To boost liver functions, take 500 mg of standardized, powdered Dandelion root extract twice a day.

For constipation, drink one cup of Dandelion tea three times a day.

To treat anaemia, take one teaspoon of fresh Dandelion tincture or juice mornings and evenings with half a glass of water.

When taking Dandelion juice or tincture, make sure that you drink at least half a glass of water as well.

Pills containing Dandelion extracts can be taken with or without food.

Dandelion leaves and flowers are very tasty when steamed like spinach and can also be used in salads.

Kava Kava, often just know as Kava, is a member of the pepper family and this shrub thrives on many South Pacific islands.

The name “Kava Kava” refers not only to the plant but also to a traditional drink that played a role in religious rituals amongst the Pacific Islanders.

Kava Kava root contains a number of compounds that have a wide range of therapeutic uses.

In many European countries, doctors are prescribing Kava Kava as an herbal medicine for treating anxiety, stress and insomnia.

This herbal medicine has been successfully used in treating panic attacks as well as preventing this often debilitating condition.

Kava Kava has been prescribed for people who are trying to stop smoking because of its calming effects.

Kava Kava can also be used as an herbal treatment for sore, aching muscles due to its muscle-relaxing properties. This also makes Kava Kava a useful herbal medicine to treat the pain associated with arthritis and rheumatism.

Please consult your medical practitioner prior to using any herbal medications should you be under their care.

If you have Parkinson”s disease do not use Kava Kava as it may make symptoms worse.

Pregnant and lactating women should not use Kava Kava.

Stomach upsets are the most common side effects of this herbal medicine. Continued use of high doses of Kava Kava can lead to skin rashes and muscle weakness.

Do not use Kava Kava with any prescription anti-depressants, tranquilizers and alcohol.

The recommended dose is 250mg of a standardized Kava Kava extract two to three times daily.

The third dose can be taken 30 minutes before bedtime.