Blessed Thistle
( Cnicus Benedictus)
Other Names:: : Holy thistle, ladys thistle, carduus cardin, St benedicts thistle
Used for centuries to increase breast milk. Works to tonify the liver and cleanse the blood. Stimulates overall circulation to treat simple headaches and help brain stimulation and decrease foggy thinking.
Large doses can cause vomiting. Use with caution if have allergies in the Aster Family, do not use while pregnant
Energetics::
Drying
Remove excess fluid from tissue, causing it to become more firm and dense, relieve conditions of dampness and sweling.
Cooling
Sedate or slow down metabolism to decrease energy production while cooling or soothing irritation and redness
Warming
Stimlate or speed up metabolism; increase energy production and warmth; bring blow flow and vitality to tissues that are pale and cool
Properties::
stimulant
Raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body
Nervine
Calm the body, mind, spirit. fortify frayed nerve endings that result from chronic stress and unrest.
Galactagogue
Increase breast milk production
Carminative
Relieve gas by suppressing the formation of gas in the intestines and promoting expulsion of gas.
Bitter
Triggers the gastrointestinal system to get ready to eat
Alterative
Gradually restoring healthy bodily functions - slow working, increase assimilation of nutrients.
Ailments::
Appetite (improve)
Arthritis
Constipation
Digestive Disorders
Fever
Gall Bladder
Gas
Headaches
Hormones (female)
Kidneys
Lactation
Leucorrhea
Liver
Lungs
Menstrual Cramps
Migraine Headaches
Urinary Disorders
Associated with ::
General muscle aches
Respiratory System
Sinuses
Heart
Intestines
Gastrointestinal
Blue Vervain
( Verbena Hastata)
Other Names:: : Simpler's joy, American blue vervain
Can be used internally to relax the nerves and combat anxiety. Helpful for nervous exhaustion from long-term stress or fanatical, hard-driving personalities and for people who suffer from neck and shoulder pain (knots). Can alleviate some types of headaches, includes migraines associated with PMS. It is helpful for many spasmodic nervous disorders as well as mild pains and colds, flu and respiratory congestion. Helpful for surface, peripheral nervous system problems, neuralgias, and some skin problems. Some spasmodic nervous disorders, including tics, palsy, and Tourette's syndrome. Can be helpful for mild pains, colds, flu, and respiratory congestion.
Extremely large doses can cause nausea and vomiting. May stimulate a miscarriage though in normal doses was used traditionally to protect against miscarriage.
Energetics::
Drying
Remove excess fluid from tissue, causing it to become more firm and dense, relieve conditions of dampness and sweling.
Relaxing
Relax muscle cramps and spasms, relieving excess tension in the tisues. promotes easier flow and movement and can help increse deficient secretion.
slightly cooling
Slightly - sedate or slow down metabolism to decrease energy production while cooling or soothing irritation and redness
Warming
Stimlate or speed up metabolism; increase energy production and warmth; bring blow flow and vitality to tissues that are pale and cool
Properties::
Anti-Inflammatory
Helps control inflammation
Antispasmodic
Quick relief of pain and spasms, muscle and or gastrointestinal.
Bitter
Triggers the gastrointestinal system to get ready to eat
Expectorant
Facilitates removal or secretions and phlegm
Nervine
Calm the body, mind, spirit. fortify frayed nerve endings that result from chronic stress and unrest.
Sedative
Exerts soothing, tranquilizing effect
Ailments::
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Colds
Emotional Stress
Exhaustion
Flu
Headaches
Inflammation
Miscarriage
Pain
Respiratory Congestion
Stress
Associated with ::
Nervous
Digestive
California Poppy
( Eschscholzia Californica)
Other Names:: : Golden poppy, California sunlight
Mild sedative and analgesic properties. Is NOT a narcotic. Helps to normalize nervous systems - eases nervous tension, anxiety, insomnia, and pain. Affinity with GABA receptors in the brain - calms the mind without depressing the central nervous system.
Not for use during pregnancy except under strict guidance.
Energetics::
Cooling
Sedate or slow down metabolism to decrease energy production while cooling or soothing irritation and redness
Relaxing
Relax muscle cramps and spasms, relieving excess tension in the tisues. promotes easier flow and movement and can help increse deficient secretion.
Properties::
Sedative
Exerts soothing, tranquilizing effect
Soporific (Hypnotic)
Induce drowsiness or sleep
Antispasmodic
Quick relief of pain and spasms, muscle and or gastrointestinal.
Ailments::
Anxiety
A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.
Emotional Stress
Headaches
Insomnia
Irritability
Nervous Disorders
Nervousness
Pain
Sprains
Stress
Associated with ::
Nervous
Black Cohosh
( Actaea racemosa, Cimicifuga racemosa)
Other Names:: : snake root, squar root, rattle root, bugbane, macrotys, tall bugbane, bugwort, rattleweed
Has an estrogenic effect. Relief of menopausal symptoms. Relieves anxiety and muscle tension - often used as a relaxant and anti-spasmodic. Relieves rheumatism and inflammatory pain. Breaks up mucus in lungs and aides eliminatory secretions of the kidneys, liver and lymphatic system.
Decoction: 2 - 4 oz 3 times a day. Tincture :: 3 - 30 drops (.1 - 1ml) 3 times a day. Glycerite :: 6 drops - 1ml 3 times a day.
Large doses can cause, headaches, dizziness, irritation of central nervous system, nausea, vomiting. Should NOT be used during first trimester of pregnancy. At full term pregnancy can used helpful to initiate and regulate labor contractions.
Energetics::
Cooling
Sedate or slow down metabolism to decrease energy production while cooling or soothing irritation and redness
Drying
Remove excess fluid from tissue, causing it to become more firm and dense, relieve conditions of dampness and sweling.
Relaxing
Relax muscle cramps and spasms, relieving excess tension in the tisues. promotes easier flow and movement and can help increse deficient secretion.
Properties::
Alterative
Gradually restoring healthy bodily functions - slow working, increase assimilation of nutrients.
Anti-Arrhythmic
Suppress abnormal heart rhythms
Anti-Depressant
Helps prevent, cure or alleviate mental depression
Antirheumatic
Helps ease pain of rheuatism and inflammation of joints and muscles
Antispasmodic
Quick relief of pain and spasms, muscle and or gastrointestinal.
Antivenomous
Treat certain venomous bites and stings
Astringent
Constriction / knitting together of body tissues - good to reduce chronic inflammation of the bowels.
Bitter
Triggers the gastrointestinal system to get ready to eat
Emmenagogue
Regulates, induces normal menstruation
Expectorant
Facilitates removal or secretions and phlegm
stimulant
Raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body
Anti-Inflammatory
Helps control inflammation
Ailments::
Arthritis
Asthma
Bee Stings
Blood Pressure (high)
Blood Purifier
Bronchitis
Circulation
Convulsions
Coughs
Cramps
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Headaches
Heart
Hormones (female)
Hot Flashes
Insect Bites
Kidneys
Liver
Lumbago
Lungs
Menopause
Menstruation
Nervous Disorders
Rheumatism
Skin Problems
Smoking
Snake Bite
Thyroid
Uterus
Associated with ::
General muscle aches
Musculoskeleton
Skin
Sinuses
Heart
Liver
Immune System
Endocrine
Reproductive
Jamaican Dogwood
( Piscidia erythrina, P. piscipula)
Other Names:: : Piscidia erythrina, Fish Poison Bark
Mild narcotic and anodyne. Potent sedative known as a remedy for migraine headaches, neuralgia, treatment of insomnia caused by pain, nervous tension, and stress. Anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, useful for painful menstrual cramps. Combined with other herbs to treat musculoskeletal pain of arthritis and rheumatism. Mixes extremely well with Corydalis for pain relief.
Tincture: 10 drops to 3ml every 4 hours.
Use very cautiously with pregnant women or hypotension. May increase effectiveness of sedative medication.
Energetics::
Cooling
Sedate or slow down metabolism to decrease energy production while cooling or soothing irritation and redness
Relaxing
Relax muscle cramps and spasms, relieving excess tension in the tisues. promotes easier flow and movement and can help increse deficient secretion.
Warming
Stimlate or speed up metabolism; increase energy production and warmth; bring blow flow and vitality to tissues that are pale and cool
Properties::
Anti-Inflammatory
Helps control inflammation
Antispasmodic
Quick relief of pain and spasms, muscle and or gastrointestinal.
Narcotic
A drug that in moderate doses dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces profound sleep but in excessive doses causes stupor, coma, or convulsions
Sedative
Exerts soothing, tranquilizing effect
Soporific (Hypnotic)
Induce drowsiness or sleep
Ailments::
Cramps
Headaches
Inflammation
Menstrual Cramps
Menstruation
Migraine Headaches
Muscle ache
Muscles - Back or neck
Tight and tense neck or back pain, or dealing with a condition that causes muscle spasms
Neuralgia
A sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve and is due to irritation or damage to the nerve
Pain
Polymyalgia rheumatica
An inflammatory disorder that causes muscle pain and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips
Rheumatism
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease that causes inflammation around the body and commonly presents with pain in the joints. It can cause severe damage to the joints and their surroundin
Stress
Tension
Associated with ::
Neurological
Musculoskeletal
