Pain and inflammation
Bearberry recommended
Pain and Inflammation Tincture
Ingredients: Organic Herbs including White Willow Bark, Devils Claw and Ginger. Extracted using distilled Ethyl Alcohol (40-60% by volume).
Adults take 10-20 drops of extract in a small amount of water or juice 3 times daily between meals.
Warnings
Keep out of reach of children.
Those who are allergic to aspirin and with gastric or duodenal ulcers should not use should use with caution. Do not take in combination with aspirin. It is not recommended for pregnant and nursing women. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
This Statement and product have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own healthcare provider.
Pain and Inflammatory Tonic
$3.00 for 10 individual tea bags
This is definitely not your sit down and enjoy a cup of tea drink. This powerful anti-inflammatory tonic is packed with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, nutrient rich and circulation promoting herbs. (Hibiscus, Ginger, Holy Basil, green tea, elderberry, Juniper berries, nettle root, and Tumeric)
Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Excessive use may cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Components often intercropped with peanuts. Occasionally fragments of peanut shells are present. Caution for individuals with severe peanut allergies.
If you have been using juniper berry tea for several weeks and you urine smells like violets, you have been using the herb too long. Continued overdose can cause renal irritation and blood in the urine, so only use in moderation.
General: We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.
Information provided is based on historical and traditional use of herbs and is for educational purposes only
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Anti-inflammatory Facial Soap Cream
Essential OIls
Ginger Essential Oil
15 ml (1/2 Ounce)
30 ml (1 Ounce)
100% Pure Organic Ginger Essential Oil
Learn More about Essential Oil Grades
The essential oil that come from the Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is a pungent, peculiar-looking underground rhizome known for its warm, spicy, and energizing scent. Ginger has been valued for thousands of years for its medicinal and culinary properties, particularly in ancient Chinese, Indian, and Greek civilizations. When used topically, Ginger oil can help relieve aches and pain, as well as promote normal blood circulation.
Clove Essential Oil
Learn More about Essential Oil Grades
The health benefits of clove oil can be attributed to its antimicrobial, anti fungal, antiseptic, antiviral, aphrodisiac and stimulating properties. The oil is used for treating a variety of health disorders including toothaches, indigestion, cough, asthma, headache, stress and blood impurities. The most important and common use of clove oil is in dental care. Several toothpastes, mouth wash and oral care medications contain clove oil as an important ingredient. Due to its antiseptic properties, clove oil is useful for wound, cuts, scabies, athlete’s foot, fungal infections, bruises, prickly heat, scabies, and other types of injuries. It can also be used for treating insect bites and stings. Clove oil is very strong in nature and should always be used in diluted form, and furthermore, it should not be used by people with unusually sensitive skin.
Cilantro Essential Oil
15 ml (1/2 Ounce)
30 ml (1 Ounce)
100% Pure Organic Cilantro Essential Oil.
Learn More about Essential Oil Grades
Cilantro essential oil is the plant that produces Coriander, and is widely considered to be a miracle plant. Cilantro is reported to have analgesic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, carminative, depurative, deodorant, digestive, fungicidal, lipolytic, stimulant, and stomachic properties. It is very helpful in curing a cough, as well as helping to lose unwanted weight.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Wintergreen Essential Oil
100% Pure Organic Wintergreen Essential Oil
The active ingredient in wintergreen oil, methyl salicylate, is closely related to aspirin and has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. As such, products containing wintergreen oil are often used as an anti-inflammatory and topical pain reliever.
Wintergreen oil has also been used in traditional medicine for the following conditions:
bacterial infections
colds
headache
colic
skin conditions
sore throat
tooth decay
Learn More about Essential Oil Grades
Tinctures
Cayenne Herbal Extract
Capsicum annum Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
Also known as Cayenne Peppers & African Birdseye Pepper
This Cayenne is USDA Organic, and has a heat rating of 35,000 H.U.
History: Chili is the Aztec name for Capsicum annuum. It has been used both as a food and a medicine by Native Americans for over 9000 years. The Capsicum family includes bell peppers, red peppers, paprika, and pimento, but the most famous medicinal members of the family are cayenne and chile. The tasty hot peppers have long been used in many of the world's cuisines, but their greatest use in health comes from, surprisingly, conventional medicine.
The burning sensation of hot peppers is a reaction of the central nervous system to capsaicin; unlike horseradish, wasabi, garlic, ginger, and mustard, capsaicin only causes the sensation of damage, not real damage to tissues.
Uses: A stimulating stomachic. A catalyst for all herbs. Improves circulation, aids digestion by stimulating gastric juices, stimulates the appetite, reduces inflammation, is a mild stimulant or tonic, improves metabolism, relieves gas, colds, chills, and stops bleeding from ulcers. Good for the kidneys, lungs, spleen, pancreas, heart, and stomach.
Actions: Stimulant, anti-inflammatory, rubefacient, carminative, digestive, sialagogue, tonic.
Constituents: Alkaloids, capsaicin, capsacutin, capsaicin, capsanthine, capsico PABA, fatty acids, flavonoids, sugars, carotene, volatile oil, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and C.
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
White Willow Bark Herbal Extract
Salix alba Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
6.00 per ounce
Also known as Common Willow and European Willow
History: The Ancient Greek physician Dioscoides wrote that the bark of the White Willow tree has the ability to reduce fevers and pain. It was only discovered in modern times that the tree was rich in salicin, a natural pain reliever. In fact, the original recipe for aspirin called for the bark of the White Willow tree, although the modern aspirin is completely synthetic.
Uses: Willow bark is used to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Researchers believe that the chemical salicin, found in willow bark, is responsible for these effects. However, studies show several other components of willow bark, including plant chemicals called polyphenols and flavonoids, have antioxidant, fever-reducing, antiseptic, and immune-boosting properties. Some studies show willow is as effective as aspirin for reducing pain and inflammation (but not fever), and at a much lower dose. Scientists think that may be due to other compounds in the herb.
Active Ingredients: Glycosides (1.5-11%): salicylates (salicin, salicortin, populin, fragilin, tremulacin) · Tannins (8-20%), Aromatic aldehydes and acids: (salidroside, vanillin, syringin, salicylic acid, caffeic and ferulic acids), Salicyl alcohol (saligenin), Flavonoids
Actions: Analgesic, Anticoagulant, antithrombotic, Anti-inflammatory, Antifungal, Antipyretic;
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Frankincense Herbal Extract
Boswellia serrata Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
6.00 per ounce
Also known as: Arbre à Encens, Bible Frankincense, Boswellia carteri, Boswellia sacra, Boswellie, Encens, Incense, Oleo-gum-resin, Oléo-Gomme-Résine, Oliban, Olibanum, Ru Xiang, Ru Xiang Shu.
History: Probably best known because of the Nativity story, Frankincense - derived from the resin of a tree called Boswellia serrata and other species of the same - has an interesting history. In Hebrew, its name is levonah, meaning "white;" in Arabic, a closely-related language, it is 'al-luban, a term referring to milk; the name of the modern country of Lebanon is derived from both. However, it came to be known as "frankincense" when crusaders - many of whom were French or "Frankish" - introduced it to Europe during the Middle Ages.
Dried Frankincense is used in numerous ways, including the manufacture of perfume and aromatherapy; ancient Egyptians used burnt powdered frankincense as eyeliner. The burning of the dried c/s boswellia serrata resin has also played a part in the religious rites of all three Abrahamic traditions.
Researchers at Cardiff University have demonstrated that frankincense has an active ingredient that can help relieve arthritis by inhibiting the inflammation that breaks down cartilage tissue and causes arthritis pain. The new study validates traditional uses of frankincense as an herbal remedy to treat arthritis in communities of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, where the trees that produce this aromatic resin grow.
Uses: Anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, extreme coughing, scars, stress, stretch marks.
Active Ingredients: alpha-pinene (6.1%); camphene (0.6%); beta-pinene (2.0%); myrcene (1.7%); limonene (4.8%); 1-octanol (5.9%); linalool (3.6%); octyl acetate (46.8%); 1 geraniol (1.1%)
Actions: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, carminative, cicatrisant, cytophylactic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, sedative, tonic, uterine, vulnerary.
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Feverfew Herbal Extract
Chrysanthemum parthenium Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
History: Historically, Feverfew has been used as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used it as a remedy for fevers and as an air purifier. However, it was not until seventeenth-century that herbalist Nicholas Culpeper recorded in his book, Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, that Feverfew was a very effective for relieving pains in the head. Over 400 years later, Feverfew is still seen as an exceptional remedy for fevers and headaches.
Uses: Migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness, PMS and tinnitus
Active Ingredients: volatile oils, sesquiterpene, lactones such as parthenolides,
Actions: anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, relaxant, digestive bitter, uterine stimulant
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Devils Claw Herbal Extract
Harpagophytum procumbens Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
Also Known as: Devils Claw, Devil's Claw Root, Garra del Diablo, Grapple Plant, Griffe du Diable, Harpagophyti Radix, Harpagophytum, Harpagophytum procumbens, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Racine de Griffe du Diable, Racine de Windhoek, Teufelskrallenwurzel, Uncaria procumbens, Wood Spider.
History: Historically, Harpagophytum procumbens (devil’s claw) has been used as an analgesic, a remedy for fevers and allergies, and as a bitter by San bushmen in Africa to stimulate gastric enzymes and digestion. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recommends devil’s claw as a diuretic and sedative, and the German Commission E, the German counterpart to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approves devil’s claw for dyspepsia, appetite stimulation, and degenerative disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Devil’s claw has also been used for liver and
kidney disorders, as a purgative, an oxytocic, and as a topical agent to treat wounds and skin rashes. Clinical research has shown it to be effective for arthritis and rheumatic disorders.
Uses: Harpagophytum procumbens natural herbs are a good source of beta sitosterol and harpagoside. Devil’s claw is used for “hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis), arthritis, gout, muscle pain (myalgia), back pain, tendonitis, chest pain, gastrointestinal (GI) upset or heart burn, fever, and migraineheadache. It is also used for difficulties in childbirth, menstrual problems, allergic reactions, loss of appetite, and kidney and bladder disease.
Constituents: iridoid glycosides (2.2% total weight), harpagoside (0.5-1.6%), 8-p-coumaroylharpagide, 8-feruloylharpagide, 8-cinnamoylmyoporoside, pagoside, acteoside, isoacteoside, 6'-O-acetylacteoside, 2,6-diacetylacteoside, cinnamic acid, caffeic acid, procumbide, and procumboside.
Actions: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use. Use with caution in persons with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Ginger Herbal Extract
Zinziber Officinalis Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
6.00 per ounce
Also known as African Ginger, Amomum Zingiber, Ardraka, Black Ginger, Cochin Ginger, Gan Jiang, Gingembre, Gingembre Africain, Gingembre Cochin, Gingembre Indien, Gingembre Jamaïquain, Gingembre Noir, Ginger Essential Oil, Ginger Root, Huile Essentielle de Gingembre, Imber, Indian Ginger, Jamaica Ginger, Jengibre, Jiang, Kankyo, Kanshokyo, Nagara, Race Ginger, Racine de Gingembre, Rhizoma Zingiberi, Rhizoma Zingiberis, Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens, Shen Jiang, Sheng Jiang, Shoga, Shokyo, Shunthi, Srungavera, Sunth, Sunthi, Vishvabheshaja, Zingiber Officinale, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Zingiberis Siccatum Rhizoma, Zinzeberis, Zinziber Officinale, Zinziber Officinalis.
History: The word ginger comes from the ancient Sanskrit singabera, meaning 'shaped like a horn'. It first appeared in the writings of Confucius in the 5th century BC. and it has been used medicinally in the West for at least 2000 years. It was introduced by the Spaniards to the Americas and is now cultivated extensively in the West Indies. The Portuguese introduced it to West Africa. It was traditionally used to warm the stomach and dispel chills. In the 18th century it was added to remedies to modify their action and to reduce their irritant effects upon the stomach. Ginger is still used in this way in China to reduce the toxicity of some herbs. The Chinese prescribe ginger tea for delayed menstruation. It is rich in vitamin C, and Chinese mariners ate it fresh to ward off scurvy.
Uses: Ginger is an excellent companion, warming the body, improving the circulation and activating the body's defenses. Ginger has a very useful function during colds, flu, virus infections, coughs, chronic bronchial problems and low-grade infections of all kinds. Ginger has a high content of antioxidants. This makes it a free radical scavenger. This means, it has antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties. The alcohol extract of ginger can directly stimulate the heart and the motor center of the blood vessels.
Constituents: vanillyl ketones, including gingerol and paradol. Each of ginger’s 477 constituents could be listed. This impressive list includes the well known ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, capsaicin, beta-sitosterol, beta-carotene, curcumin, lecithin, limonene, selenium and tryptophan.
Actions: Stimulant, carminative, rubefacient, Antiemetic, Antiseptic
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Cinnamon Herbal Extract
Cinnamomum verum Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
History: Cinnamon is known for its well known smell and its use in sweet culinary treats. Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia and was traded , anciently, along the Silk Road between Europe, the Middle East, and China. At that time, cinnamon was very costly and only the wealthy could afford to have the luxury of burying the spice. However, European exploration and expansion made Cinnamon more available and affordable. Although Cinnamon was mainly used as a food seasoning, it was also used medicinally. Cinnamon has been used to treat many issues including GI upset, menstrual problems, and dysmenorrhea disorders of microcirculation. The essential oil derived from Cinnamon has been used against various microorganisms and fungi.
Uses: Antimicrobial, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, diabetes, inflammation.
Active Ingredients: cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, trans-cinnamic acid, hydroxycinnamaldehyde, o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, limonene, alpha-terpineol, tannins, mucilage, oligomeric procyanidins, and trace amounts of coumarin.
Actions: Carminative, astringent, aromatic, stimulant, anti inflammatory
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Witch Hazel Herbal Extract
Hamamelis virginiana L. Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
Also known as Snapping Hazel, Winterbloom
History: Today Witch Hazel is found all over the world and is a very common home remedy; however, the plant is native to North America. Natives commonly used Witch Hazel for medicinal purposes. In fact, Native Americans taught early English settlers how to use Witch Hazel as a common remedy, who in turn took the plant back to Europe. Witch Hazel was introduced into English gardens by Peter Collinson, who maintained correspondence with plant hunters in the American colonies. Nowadays, it is rarely seen in the nursery trade except for woodland and wildlife restoration projects and native plant enthusiasts.
Active Ingredients: rich in tannin and gallic acid, bitters, traces of volatile oil
Actions: astringent, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Butchers Broom Herbal Extract
Ruscus aculeatus Herbal Extract 1:4 50%
$6.00 per ounce
Also known as: Balai du Boucher, Box Holly, Fragon, Jew's Myrtle, Kneeholm, Knee Holly, Pettigree, Sweet Broom, Rusci Aculeati, Rusci Aculeati Rhizoma, Rusco, Ruscus aculeatus.
History: Ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote of this particular herb in his work Naturalis Historia, describing its ability to reduce the swelling in diseased limbs. The medicinal use of the brush-like branches of the Broom, under the name Genista, Genesta, or Genestia, is mentioned in the earliest printed herbals, under Passau, 1485, the Hortus Sanitatis, 1491, the Grete Herball, 1516, and others. It is likewise the Genista figured by the German botanists and pharmacologists of the sixteenth century.
Broom was used in ancient Anglo-Saxon medicine and by the Welsh physicians of the early Middle Ages. It had a place in the London Pharmacopceia of 1618 and is included in the British Pharmacopoeia of the present day.
Actions: Ruscus aculeatus has mildly astringent, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.
Constituents: 10% saponins, including the steroidal saponin glycosides ruscogenin and neoruscogenin; steroidal sapogenins; sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids including rutin, coumarins, sparteine, tyramine, and glycolic acid.
Natural herbs such as Ruscus aculetus powder should be treated with the same caution as prescription drugs;
Warnings
Keep away from children. Consult your health care professional before use.
The information presented herein by Bearberry Essentials is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Herbs
Devil's Claw Root
Harpagophytum procumbens
Also Known as: Devil's Claw Root, Garra del Diablo, Grapple Plant, Griffe du Diable, Harpagophyti Radix, Harpagophytum, Harpagophytum procumbens, Harpagophytum zeyheri, Racine de Griffe du Diable, Racine de Windhoek, Teufelskrallenwurzel, Uncaria procumbens, Wood Spider.
Harpagophytum procumbens natural herbs are a good source of beta sitosterol and harpagoside. Devil’s claw is used for “hardening of the arteries" (atherosclerosis), arthritis, gout, muscle pain (myalgia), back pain, tendonitis, chest pain, gastrointestinal (GI) upset or heart burn, fever, and migraineheadache. It is also used for difficulties in childbirth, menstrual problems, allergic reactions, loss of appetite, and kidney and bladder disease.
Modern Use: The Commission E approved the use of devil's claw root for loss of appetite, dyspepsia, and degenerative disorders of the locomotor system. Devil's claw root has been used to treat painful arthroses, tendonitis, indigestion, blood diseases, headache, allergies, rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, neuralgia, and fever, and externally for sores, ulcer, boils, and skin lesions. It has also been used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic.
Warning:
Use with caution in persons with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
White Willow Bark
Salix alba
Also known as Common Willow and European Willow
$2.50 per ounce
History: The Ancient Greek physician Dioscoides wrote that the bark of the White Willow tree has the ability to reduce fevers and pain. It was only discovered in modern times that the tree was rich in salicin, a natural pain reliever. In fact, the original recipe for aspirin called for the bark of the White Willow tree, although the modern aspirin is completely synthetic.
Ginger Root Powder
$1.00 an ounce
Also known as Gan Jiang, Gingembre, , Shen Jiang, Sheng Jiang, Zingiber Officinale,
Ginger is commonly used for various types of "stomach problems," including motion sickness, morning sickness, colic, upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), nausea, nausea caused by cancer treatment, nausea caused by HIV/AIDS treatment, nausea and vomiting after surgery, as well as loss of appetite.
Other uses include pain relief from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, and other conditions. However, there is not strong evidence to support the use of ginger for these conditions.
Some people pour the fresh juice on their skin to treat burns. The oil made from ginger is sometimes applied to the skin to relieve pain. Ginger extract is also applied to the skin to prevent insect bites.
Cinnamon Chip
Cinnamomum verum
$1.73 per Ounce
History: Cinnamon is known for its well known smell and its use in sweet culinary treats. Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia and was traded , anciently, along the Silk Road between Europe, the Middle East, and China. At that time, cinnamon was very costly and only the wealthy could afford to have the luxury of burying the spice. However, European exploration and expansion made Cinnamon more available and affordable. Although Cinnamon was mainly used as a food seasoning, it was also used medicinally. Cinnamon has been used to treat many issues including GI upset, menstrual problems, and dysmenorrhea disorders of microcirculation. The essential oil derived from Cinnamon has been used against various microorganisms and fungi.
ModernUses: The Commission E approved the internal use of cinnamon for loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild, spastic condition of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating, and flatulence. The German Standard License for cinnamon bark tea infusion lists it for complaints such as a feeling of distension, flatulence, and mild cramp-like gastrointestinal disorders due to reduced production of gastric juice (Braun et al., 1997). In France, cinnamon bark is traditionally used to treat symptoms of digestive disorders, functional asthenias, and also to facilitate weight gain
Active Ingredients: cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, trans-cinnamic acid, hydroxycinnamaldehyde, o-methoxycinnamaldehyde, cinnamyl alcohol, limonene, alpha-terpineol, tannins, mucilage, oligomeric procyanidins, and trace amounts of coumarin.
Actions: Carminative, astringent, aromatic, stimulant, anti inflammatory
Feverfew
Chrysanthemum parthenium
Also known as Bachelor’s-button, Featherfew, Featherfoil, and Wild Chamomile
History: Historically, Feverfew has been used as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans, who used it as a remedy for fevers and as an air purifier. However, it was not until seventeenth-century that herbalist Nicholas Culpeper recorded in his book, Culpeper’s Complete Herbal, that Feverfew was a very effective for relieving pains in the head. Over 400 years later, Feverfew is still seen as an exceptional remedy for fevers and headaches.
Uses: Migraine headaches, arthritis, dizziness, PMS and tinnitus
Active Ingredients: volatile oils, sesquiterpene, lactones such as parthenolides,
Actions: anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, relaxant, digestive bitter, uterine stimulant
Frankincense
Boswellia serrata
Also known as: Arbre à Encens, Bible Frankincense, Boswellia carteri, Boswellia sacra, Boswellie, Encens, Incense, Oleo-gum-resin, Oléo-Gomme-Résine, Oliban, Olibanum, Ru Xiang, Ru Xiang Shu.
History: Probably best known because of the Nativity story, Frankincense - derived from the resin of a tree called Boswellia serrata and other species of the same - has an interesting history. In Hebrew, its name is levonah, meaning "white;" in Arabic, a closely-related language, it is 'al-luban, a term referring to milk; the name of the modern country of Lebanon is derived from both. However, it came to be known as "frankincense" when crusaders - many of whom were French or "Frankish" - introduced it to Europe during the Middle Ages.
Modern Use: Researchers at Cardiff University have demonstrated that frankincense has an active ingredient that can help relieve arthritis by inhibiting the inflammation that breaks down cartilage tissue and causes arthritis pain.
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana L.
Also known as Snapping Hazel, Winterbloom
$3.50 per Ounce
History: Today Witch Hazel is found all over the world and is a very common home remedy; however, the plant is native to North America. Natives commonly used Witch Hazel for medicinal purposes. In fact, Native Americans taught early English settlers how to use Witch Hazel as a common remedy, who in turn took the plant back to Europe. Witch Hazel was introduced into English gardens by Peter Collinson, who maintained correspondence with plant hunters in the American colonies. Nowadays, it is rarely seen in the nursery trade except for woodland and wildlife restoration projects and native plant enthusiasts.
Modern Uses: The Commission E approved the use of witch hazel preparations for minor skin injuries, local inflammation of skin and mucous membranes, hemorrhoids, and for varicose veins.
Witch hazel is used as an active compound in topical ointments and suppositories for the treatment of hemorrhoids (Anon., 1991; Reynolds, 1989). The German Standard License for witch hazel leaf and/or bark tea infusion, for oral ingestion or as a mouthwash, approves its use as supportive therapy for acute, non-specific diarrhea, and also to treat inflammation of the gums and mucous membranes of the mouth (Braun et al., 1997). ESCOP indicates the internal use of witch hazel leaf infusion and/or fluidextract for symptomatic treatment of conditions related to varicose veins (painful and heavy legs, and for hemorrhoids) and the external use of the decoction and/or semisolid extract for bruises, sprains, and minor injuries of the skin, local inflammations of the skin, and mucosa, hemorrhoids, and relief of neurodermatitis atopic symptoms (ESCOP, 1997). In France, witch hazel extracts and tinctures are approved for oral and topical application to treat subjective symptoms of venous insufficiency and hemorrhoids. Local application is also allowed for relief of eye irritation and for oral hygiene
Active Ingredients: rich in tannin and gallic acid, bitters, traces of volatile oil
Actions: astringent, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary
Complementary Herbs: Pilewort
Cayenne, powder, 35K H.U.
Capsicum annum
Also known as Cayenne Peppers
History: This Cayenne is USDA Organic, and has a heat rating of 35,000 H.U. Chili is the Aztec name for Capsicum annuum. It has been used both as a food and a medicine by Native Americans for over 9000 years. The Capsicum family includes bell peppers, red peppers, paprika, and pimento, but the most famous medicinal members of the family are cayenne and chile. The tasty hot peppers have long been used in many of the world's cuisines, but their greatest use in health comes from, surprisingly, conventional medicine. The burning sensation of hot peppers is a reaction of the central nervous system to capsaicin; unlike horseradish, wasabi, garlic, ginger, and mustard, capsaicin only causes the sensation of damage, not real damage to tissues.
Modern Use: The Commission E approved cayenne for painful muscle spasms in areas of shoulder, arm, and spine of adults and children. Preparations are used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, lumbago, and chilblains. It is also used as a deterrent for thumb sucking or nail biting in children (Leung and Foster, 1996).
Butcher's Broom Root
Ruscus aculeatus
Also known as: Balai du Boucher, Box Holly, Fragon, Jew's Myrtle, Kneeholm, Knee Holly, Pettigree, Sweet Broom, Rusci Aculeati, Rusci Aculeati Rhizoma, Rusco, Ruscus aculeatus.
History: Ruscus aculeatus has mildly astringent, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Ancient Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder wrote of this particular herb in his work Naturalis Historia, describing its ability to reduce the swelling in diseased limbs.
Modern Use: It is used in Europe for disorders involving the venous system, including venous fragility or varicose veins, and clinical data supports claims that it has positive effects on circulation.