5 Herbs for Spring

As I described in my previous blog, Spring Cleaning for your Body, the lack of movement in the winter and slowed metabolism decrease the body's ability to rid itself of toxins, and make spring a great time to do some internal cleansing. Herbs can be extremely helpful with detoxification, and, at the same time, nourishing for the body with essential vitamins and minerals needed for health and growth. The great thing about the herbs listed below is that they all naturally become available in the spring time - a perfect example of the  connection between the earth and the body. 

Burdock (Arctium lappa) 

Burdock root purifies the blood by helping the body to rid itself of metabolic waste via many elimination pathways. It was used heavily during the industrial revolution to help the body deal with the intense pollution of the time. It is considered a vegetable in Japan and if it collected in early spring it can be added to soups and stir fries.  

Stinging Nettle (Urtica Dioica) 

May of you may know nettles from the awful sting they provide if you happen to stumble in to a patch of them, but any herbalist will tell you that this plant in no nuisance. David Hoffmann, a well known herbalist, once said "when in doubt, use nettles" and it really is helpful for just about everything. It helps to clear toxins, energize the body and build blood, and it is so high in vitamins and mineral that it is more nutritious than spinach. It also helps to improve the body's resistance to pollution and allergies and can tone blood vessels, skin, muscles and tissues. It is a diuretic and helps to remove acid metabolites from the body via the kidneys. The leaf can be cooked (which deactivates the sting) or the fresh leaf can be juiced. 

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinal) 

Dandelion is one of the most amazing plants around. I find it humorous that so many suburban dads fight so hard to rid their lawns of dandelions (this was my dad growing up), when in fact it is a valuable food and medicine. Dandelions are one of the 5 most nutritious veggies on the planet, and the whole plant can be used. The leaf is a diuretic and a wonderful remedy for the kidneys and bladder. Many pharmaceutical diuretics deplete potassium but dandelions have a built in buffer because they are very high in potassium. Pick the leaves before the plant flowers and you can add them directly to your salad. Once they flower, the leaves become extremely bitter (great medicine but not great food). The root stimulates the liver and gall bladder helping to cleanse the hepatic system and can be made into a tea or tincture. The flowers are delicate and tasty. I like to batter and fry them for a delicious treat.  

Alfalfa (Medicago sativm) 

Alfalfa is very nutritious. High in vitamins, minerals and chlorophyll, when fed to cows they produce more milk and when fed to chickens, they produce more eggs. The leaves and flowers can be added to salads and the sprouts (which are super easy and cheep to produce yourself with a sprouting jar) are very tasty! 

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) 

Red clover is the final herb we will discuss today. It can help purify the blood by clearing toxins, stimulating lymphatic drainage and providing nourishment.  

I feel that the best way to take advantage of these 5 herbs is to make a tea. Because many of these herbs are diuretics, releasing toxins through the process of urination, it is important to make sure you flushing your system with proper water intake. Making a tea allows for extra fluid intake and is also an excellent vehicle for the vitamins and minerals that these herbs provide. This is the recipe that I follow: 

• 2 Parts Nettle Leaf 
• 2 Parts Red Clover 
• 2 Parts Alfalfa 
• 1 Part Dandelion root or leaf 
• 1 part Burdock root 

Mix all the ingredients in a glass jar. For every 1 cup of boiling water steep 1 tbs of herb mixture for at least 10 minutes. Enjoy 1 to 3 cups a day.  

Before closing, I would like to speak to the side of caution. Extreme toxicity can build in body tissues and cells If you do not practice regular cleansing measures. These herbs, especially dandelion root and burdock root, help to dislodge toxins from the tissues so that they may be eliminated from the body. This process can produce a worsening of toxic symptoms. When I was taking an herb class, one women did a liver flush and became violently sick for several days. This happened because the toxins stored in her body were being uprooted from their hiding places in the body and released into her blood stream where they could be excreted from the body. Although taking these herbs in tea form and at this quantity should not result in such extreme effects, it is possible and if it should happen consult your local herbalist or health care professional. 

I hope you can take full advantage of the spring foliage while assisting your body with some internal spring cleaning! 

Sources: 

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: the science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, Vt.: Healing Arts Press.  

Mars, B. (2007). The desktop guide to herbal medicine. Laguna Beach, CA: Basic Health Publications.  

Mills, S. (1993). The essential book of herbal medicine. London: Arkana. 

Using Herbal Remedies for Kids

So often kids and babies are overlooked in the application of herbal remedies, which is unfortunate.  I think that herbs are often not an option for parents because there is a lack of knowledge about plant medicine and a lack of preparation. Today I would like to provide a little information to parents about the use of herbal remedies with their children and suggest a few herbs to have on hand for when your child gets sick.


There are many reasons why herbs should be used in children. First, their sensitive little bodies respond so well to the mellow and soft effects of herbs. This healing response to herbs is almost inborn, stemming from thousands of years of use. Second, where herbs have historically been proven safe, the long term effects of most pharmaceuticals are unknown. There is such a wide use of drugs without adequate knowledge of their effects. New drugs should only be considered safe once enough time has passed to see the true long term effects. Is this risk of using possibly unsafe pharmaceuticals a chance you are willing to take with your children? Herbs may be slower acting and less potent than pharmaceuticals, but herbs don't upset the natural balance of these tiny bodies.


So often people think of herb and western allopathic medicine as ether one or the other. But herbal medicine can work as an alternative or complementary to western medicine. If you plan on mixing western pharmaceuticals with herbs I suggest consulting you doctor or herbalist first to make sure there are no interactions. Using herbs as an alternative doesn't mean ignoring what your physician has to say. We can take the information they provide us with, for instance their diagnostic skills, and then apply a more natural means of treatment. It's also important to know when it's time to seek professional medical treatment. When there is severe trauma or severe or worsening infection, please seek professional medical help. It is better to be safe than sorry.


There is often a concern regarding the safety of herbal remedies. The recommended herbs for children are ones that are mild and gentle and have been used on children for thousands of years; however, it is important to be clear that even the safest and most researched herbs can cause a reaction in some people. I recommend doing a dose test to be sure your child or even you for that matter won't have an allergic reaction to an herbal remedy. To do so, make a tea from the herb. Then apply a small amount to the inner arm. I usually do it to a small patch of skin in between the wrist and elbow. Wait 24 hours. If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, discontinue use and you now know that this is not an herbal remedy to be used. If there are no signs of an allergic reaction, try a small amount internally. Again, if there are signs of allergic reaction, discontinue use; otherwise it should be ok to receive the herb at a regular dose.


The next question becomes, what is the appropriate dose for a child. I prefer to use Clark's Rule to determine dosage for children. Clark's Rule is as stated:


                      Child's weight in pounds ÷ 150 (average adult weight) = % of adult dose


So if a child weighs 35 pounds and the adult dose of a tincture is 5ml, the equation would be solved as follows:
  
                     35 ÷ 150 = .23 which would be 23% of the adult dose
                     .23 x 5ml = 1.15 ml would be the child's dose


This equation can be used for any preparation of herbs. If the child is still breast feeding, the best way for them to get the healing properties of herbs is through the mother's milk. The mother should drink several cups of herbal tea a day.

Now that you know the how to calculate dosage for children, it is important to know what herbs to have on hand. Making sure that you are prepared, is the one thing that makes herbal medicine successful with kids. As soon as you recognize the warning signs to sickness, start treatment immediately. Fatigue and dehydration are two issues that often lead to illness. Some herbs to have on hand include:

• Astragalus
• Catnip
• Chamomile
• Echinacea
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Lemon balm
• Licorice root
• Marshmallow root
• Mullen
• Nettles
• Oats
• Peppermint
• Thyme

These herbs have been used safely for thousands of years and are invaluable when it comes to treatment of health issues in children. There are also many methods of application that can be useful and easy to get children to take. An herbal tea is very healing and can also be made into popsicles or herbal jello as other ways to get kids to take herbs. Adding small amounts of fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate to the tea can make them more palatable to children. You can also take the tea and add it to a bath. We absorb more through the skin then we realize. There are also herbal candies, and tasty syrups that are kid friendly. Alcohol based tinctures can also be used for children. If you are worried about the alcohol content in the tincture you can evaporate the alcohol by adding the tincture dose to 1/4 cup of hot water and letting it sit on the counter uncovered for several minutes. You can also purchase glycerin extracts of the herbs that are more kid friendly.


Overall, herbs are an excellent contribution to the health of children. They can be used as an alternative or in conjunction to western medicine. Treating your children via natural means is a great way, as parents, to get more involved in the health of your children and focus more on prevention. Be sure not to underestimate the healing power of a little TLC and some rest. That alone can be enough to heal the worst sickness. If you would like to know more about natural healing for children, any of the books listed below are wonderful tools for parents. 

Sources

Gladstar, R. (2001). Family herbal: a guide to living with energy, health and vitality. North Adams, MA: Storey Books.

Romm, A. (1996). Natural healing for babies and children. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press.

 Romm, A. (2003). Naturally healthy babies and children: a commonsense guide to herbal remedies, nutrition and health. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts.

Daily Herb-o-Scope - Get Some Sleep with Natural remedies for insomnia

Insomnia can be devastating to both the body and the mind. There is nothing worse then lying in bed awake, hours after you should be sleeping. I feel like more and more I am hearing of people having trouble with the necessity of sleep. There are many things an individual can do to help relieve the symptoms of insomnia but until the root of the problem is addressed, insomnia will always be an issue.

There are two categories of insomnia. The first form is sleep onset insomnia where there is difficulty falling asleep. This may be due to anxiety and stress, environmental issues, emotional issues, phobia of sleep, the fear of not being able to fall asleep, pain, caffeine, alcohol and/or drugs. The second category is maintenance insomnia where the is frequent or early waking. This can be due to sleep apnoea, pain, drugs and alcohol, hypoglycemia or depression. Participation in a sleep study may be needed to rule out any serious conditions.

There are many herbs that can be taken to help with insomnia. If the problem is long term it is important to help build and tonify the nervous system. Herbs that are nervous system restoratives include: American, Asian and Siberian Ginseng, Oatstraw and berry, Flowering knotweed (He Shou Wu), stinging nettles and Schisandra berries. For symptom relief herbs such as lavender, chamomile, hops, oats, passion flower, skullcap and lemon balm can all be used as a tincture or as a tea 30 minutes before bed to promote rest. Valerian is also a common herb used in cases of insomnia, however it can be habit forming and in some people it has an energizing effect. You may wish to brew extra tea is you have maintenance insomnia and continually wake up in the middle of the night. Drink this tea when you wake up or pulse dose additional tincture.   

Essential Oils can be very helpful when you are unable to fall asleep. I find oils such as Roman Chamomile, lavender, sweet marjoram, neroli and valerian very helpful at bed time. You can purchase an electric diffuser that can help vaporize the oil. In school I heard of a man who had an awful time trying to sleep but he had also lost his olfactory function and couldn't smell anything. He bought an electric diffuser and vaporized lavender essential oil and although he could not smell, he experienced the best night sleep he had in a long time. Essential oils can also be sprinkled on you pillow or mixed with water in a spray bottle and misted of the bed before bed time.

There is a long list of things that many individuals have found helpful when dealing with insomnia. It's important to find what changes in your routine work for you. Listed are a few lifestyle changes:

· Meditation before bed can help calm the mind and stop racing thoughts.

· No TV 1/2 hour before bed time. Too much visual stimulation makes it hard for your system to turn off when you are ready for bed.

· Expressing your anxieties and worries can help to ease stress and help individuals to sleep. Try not to keep worries bottled up. If you can't express these issues, how do you expect to resolve them?

· Certain prescriptions can cause insomnia and may need to be taken earlier in the day rather than before bed.

· Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time every day can help the body to establish natural rhythms and can help reduce any sleep issues.

· Avoid sleeping medication. Pharmaceutical can promote the wrong type of sleep, reducing REM sleep and leaving you feeling groggy and exhausted.

· Avoid alcohol. It may initially help you fall asleep but it can disrupt your sleep cycle later in the night.

· Exercise during the day helps to tire the body and the mind, making it easier to fall asleep at bed time.

· Take a warm bath before bed. If you include a few drops of lavender essential oil it can be even more beneficial.

· For dinner, eat foods that are high in tryptophan, a precursor to serotonin which helps regulate sleep.

· Vitamin B3, B6 and magnesium all help with the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin.

· Avoid foods high in tyramine a precursor to norepinephrine which is a brain stimulant.

Traditional Chinese Medicine really seeks to find the cause of the problem and address it. Insomnia is just a symptom within a bigger picture. Kidney Yin deficiency, blood deficiency and Liver Fire are just a of the bigger syndromes that might include a symptom of insomnia. If insomnia is an ongoing problem for you, I suggest making an appointment with an herbalist or with an acupuncturist that is also studied in herbal medicine. This way the root of the problem can be addressed producing long term relief.