Some specific herbs Flashcards
Ginger. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Digestive problems, including nausea, indigestion, gas and colic.
2. Circulatory: stimulates the circulation and helps blood flow to the surface, which is helpful for chilblains and poor circulation.
3. Respiratory conditions: good for coughs, colds, flus.
GROUNDING AND CALMING. BUT ENERGIZING
Safety: People with gallstone disease should be cautious when using ginger because it may increase bile flow.
Ginger can grow in the garden.
Garlic. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Bronchial infections: colds, flus and ear infections. Helps to reduce mucus.
2. Digestive: including digestive infections and intestinal parasites.
3. circulatory: lowers cholesterol and keeps the blood thin.
Safety: eating too much can cause digestive issues, but 2 cloves a day is considered safe. Garlic in oil, if not prepared correctly, can contain botulism. Avoid if taking an anticoagulant, as it thins blood.
Yarrow. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Healing wounds (you can make an ointment)
2. Gynecological - regulates the menstrual cycle, reduces heavy bleeding, eases menstrual pain.
2. Along with other herbs, good for colds and flus
Safety: May cause allergic reactions. Do not use when pregnant. Use the essential oil only under professional supervision.
Yarrow can be found in Manitoba.
Calamus. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses.
1.Throat Infections
2. Infected lunch infections
3. Diabetes
SINGING VOICE, ENERGY SUPPORT, SINUS, AWAKENS MIND, UNBLOCKS SUBTLE ENERGYCHANNELSKEEPS AURA CLEAN AND PROTECTED. GUM INFECTIONS. LUNG INFECTIONS
Safety Concerns: the Indian variety has been banned due to its beta-asarone content, which, when isolated and concentrated, can cause cell mutations.
This herb grows locally.
CALENDULA/ POT MARIGOLD. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 Uses:
1. Skin Remedy: most minor skin problems, including cuts, scrapes, wounds, red and inflamed skin, minor burns, sunburn, acne, rashes, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush
2. Digestive disorders: taken internally, helps inflammatory problems of the digestive system (gastritis, peptic ulcers, regional ileitis, colitis
3. Detoxifying: helps to treat the toxicity that underlies many fevers and infections, and systemic skin disorders
Main Parts used: Flowers
Any Safety concerns:
Whether it grows locally: yes, this grows in the garden
Black Cohosh. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Gynecological (menstrual pain, menopausal symptoms - especially hot flashes, debility, and depression).
2. inflammation (inflammatory arthritis, rheumatic problems)
3. Sedative.
Part used: the root
Safety concerns: do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding. While black cohosh has been used safely in research studies that lasted as long as a year and is generally well tolerated, concerns have been raised that it may cause liver damage in some people. Cases of liver damage—some very serious—have been reported in people taking products labeled as black cohosh.
It grows in Ontario and throughout the eastern US
Skullcap. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. To stimulate menstruation and relieve menstrual pain
2. Nervine: has a deeper action on the nervous system than other herbs. Supports and nourishes the nervous system; calms and relieves stress and anxiety.
3. to treat insomnia
I am unaware of any safety concerns
This herb grows locally.
Wild Yam. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Rheumatism and arthritis
2. painful menstruation, ovarian pain
3. muscle spasms and pain
Safety: do not take during pregnancy
It grows in Ontario and Quebec
Tea Tree. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1.Traditional Aboriginal remedy, where the leaves are crushed and used for coughs, colds and skin infections.
2. Skin problems, including athlete’s foot, ringworm, corns, warts, acne and boils, insect bites and stings, infected burns scrapes and wounds.
3. Vaginal infections: used for a range of yeast infections.
Safety concerns: it is very strong, and can even peel the paint off a door if it lands on it. Dilute well and do a skin patch test. It can be toxic to animals. I would never take this internally. It is toxic to ingest.
Tea Tree is not local: it is from Australia.
Lemon Balm. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Relieves cold sores and reduces the chances/ frequency of further outbreaks
2. As a tonic for anxiety, mild depression, restlessness and irritability
3. Good for people with an overactive thyroid.
Safety implications: it might interact with thyroid medications and with sedatives.
You can grow lemon balm in your garden and it is easy to pick up at the farmer’s market.
Rosemary. List the top 3 uses, the parts used, any safety concerns that you’re aware of, and whether or not it grows locally.
Top 3 uses:
1. Circulatory stimulant: stimulates the circulation of blood to the head, improving concentration and memory.
2. Nervous problems: has been used to treat epilepsy and vertigo
3. Restorative: aids recovery from long term stress and chronic illness.
Safety concerns: do not take the essential oil internally except under professional supervision
Rosemary grows locally.
PINE (BALSAM FIR)
Main Parts used and why:
1. Needles
To induce sleep (tea)
To relieve cold symptoms, including cough, sore throat, and chest or sinus congestion
Antiscorbutic (prevents or cures scurvy)
Antidiabetic
- Pitch/ sap
The gum from balsam fir can be used as an analgesic to relieve pain (muscle aches, soreness, joint stiffness, rheumatoid arthritis)
Antiseptic (to treat cuts and burns): people have made topical salves from balsam fir resin, although it can cause dermatitis in some individuals and may irritate mucous membranes.
Can be made into a salve - effective in treating sore nipples during childbirth and nursing
Toothaches and mouth abcesses - Essential Oils
Antiseptic: The Oil from balsam fir has antimicrobial properties and can be used as an antiseptic on wounds.
The essential oil can also be used as an analgesic to relieve pain
Anti-tumoral properties
Helps reduce stress and anxiety
effective against ticks - Inner Bark
Can make a tea or decoction to treat chest pains
The inner bark can be used to treat respiratory infections, persistent coughs, and asthma
The bark has been noted to treat urinary tract infections like cystitis
Boughs and twigs
can be boiled to purify indoor air
can be steeped in water and used as a laxative
Branches smoked in the sweat lodge have been used to alleviate muscle spasms and joint pain as well as alleviate pulmonary disorders - Root
can be chewed to treat oral sores and other problems of the mouth
Any Safety concerns:
The sap can irritate the skin
can be harmful to the eyes
Non-toxic to humans, but can be toxic to cats
Consult a physician if pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor’s care
Whether it grows locally: yes, this grows locally.
BIRCH
Main Parts used and why:
1. Bark
birch bark oil has been used to treat skin diseases (psoriasis, eczema)
The bark has been used to prepare teas for the treatment of digestive tract infections
antitumor activity
- Leaf
The leaf contains a lot of vitamin C
Used for urinary tract infections
Diuretic
Analgesic - used to treat arthritis, gout and rheumatism
steaming birch leaves can help with sinus congestion
Any Safety concerns: Can cause allergic reactions in some people. Birch leaf might increase the amount of salt that the body retains, which can make high blood pressure worse.
Whether it grows locally: yes, this grows locally
HIGH BUSH CRANBERRY/ CRAMPBARK
Top 3 Uses:
1. Relieve cramping in digestive, menstrual, or any muscular related issues
2. Preventing miscarriage due to nervous conditions
3. Anti-spasmodic for asthma and nervous conditions (fits, convulsions, fainting, and neuralgia)
Main Parts used and why: The inner bark
Any Safety concerns: Use with caution during lactation (salicylates may cause rashes in babies). Also used to treat hypertension; use causion in people with low blood pressure.
Whether it grows locally: Yes, highbush cranberry grows in Manitoba and other parts of Canada.
HAWTHORN
Top 3 Uses:
1. Heart remedy - to treat angina and coronary artery disease
2. Blood pressure - restores blood pressure to normal (lowers high blood pressure and raises low blood pressure)
3. Poor memory - In combination with ginkgo, used to enhance poor memory
ALSO VERYGOOD TO SUPPORT SLEEP!
Main Parts used and why:Berries help the heart function normally; flowering tops stimulate the circulation
Any Safety concerns: take only under professional supervision
Whether it grows locally: Yes, this grows in Manitoba
ROSEMARY
Top Uses:
1. Circulatory stimulant: stimulates the circulation of blood to the head, improving concentration and memory
2. Nervous problems: has been used to treat epilepsy and vertigo
3. Restorative: aids recovery from long term stress and chronic illness
4. SUPPORTS LIVER!
Main Parts used and why: leaves
Any Safety concerns: do not take the essential oil internally except under professional supervision
Whether it grows locally: yes
USNEA (BEARD LICHEN)
Top 3 Uses:
1. Lung Infection
2. Urinary tract infection
3. Fungal Infection
Main Parts used: the lichen and the algae
Any Safety concerns: Excessively high amounts of Usnea have shown toxicity in animals
Whether it grows locally: yes, this grows locally
HORSE TAIL
Top 3 Uses:
1. Healing broken bones and supplies nutrients to the bone tissue
2. Blood cleanser, dispels stones
3. Can be used on inflamed surfaces as a topical
4. GOOD FOR BED WETTING ISSUES
Main Parts used: Herb
Any Safety concerns: Due to its high silica content, should not be used for extended periods of time, unless under professional supervision. Can aggravate really dry (Vatta) people.
Whether it grows locally: Yes, horsetail grows in Manitoba
PAU D’ARCO
Top 3 Uses:
1. Early cure-all: wounds, fever, dysentery, intestinal inflammation, certain types of cancer, snakebite
2. Infections: viral infections, natural antibiotic for bacterial infections, especially of the nose, mouth, and throat.
3. Fungal conditions, including ringworm and yeast infections
Anti-Inflammatory action: reduces and relieves inflammatory problems, especially in the stomach and intestines
Main Parts used: Dried inner bark
Any Safety concerns: High doses can cause uncontrolled bleeding and vomiting.
Pregnant and nursing women should not take pau d’arco.
Whether it grows locally: No, it is from Peru and Argentina
