Internet Info 1997 December/Internet_Info_CD-ROM_Walnut_Creek_December_1997.iso/faqs/alt/answers/medicinal-herbs/part5

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From: [e-mail] (Henriette Kress)
Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs,alt.answers,news.answers
Subject: Medicinal herbFAQ (v.1.27b) Part 5/7
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Date: Wed, 24 Sep 1997 17:51:27 GMT
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Summary: What you have always wanted to know (and ask on a newsgroup)(more often than once a month) about medicinal herbs
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Archive-name: medicinal-herbs/part5
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Last-modified: 1997/09/24
Version: 1.27b
URL: http://sunsite.unc.edu/herbmed/mediherb.html

Available by ftp: sunsite.unc.edu or sunsite.sut.ac.jp
 /pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-medicine/faqs/

==========

2.3 Processing herbs

==========
2.3.1 Distilling oil
-----
This info is copyright by the Australasian College of Herbal Studies,
Aromatherapy Certificate Home Study Course. Posted with permission.

>I would really be interested in finding out how to make essential oils.

From Dorene Petersen <[e-mail]>:

The most important production method for Essential oils is distillation.
The basic principle of distillation is the same but it is carried out in
different ways depending on the botanical material and the condition of the
material.

Three types of distillation are used:

  1. Water
  2. Water and steam
  3. Direct steam

Distillation is basically, producing steam. The steam is passed through the
herbal material. The steam carries the Essential oil from the plant in
suspension which means the droplets of Essential oils are not dissolved in
the steam but remain separate as droplets of oil. When the steam is cooled
it reverts to the liquid state which is water and in most cases the oil
floats on the surface of the water. The oil is then separated from the
water by dripping or pouring.

  1. Water distillation is used when the plant material has been dried and
     will not be damaged by boiling. It is also used for powdered materials
     such as powdered almond, and flowers, such as orange and rose, that
     need to float freely as they tend to lump together when just steam is
     passed through them. The material comes into direct contact with the
     boiling water and much care needs to be taken that the water does not
     boil away and cause the plant material to burn. Another example of an
     oil prepared by this method is turpentine gum. Turpentine gum is
     collected from a species of Pine (Pinus palustris) and the gum, wood
     chips and pine needles are placed in the distilling chamber with rain
     water. This mixture is heated until the plant and oil are condensed in
     the condensing chamber. Turpentine oil is not affected by very
     excessive heat.
  2. The second method of distillation is water and steam. This is used for
     either fresh or dried plant material that would be damaged by boiling.
     The plant material is supported on a perforated grid. The water level
     is below the grid and low pressure, wet steam passes through the plant
     material. The most important aspect of this method is that the steam
     is never really hot and always at low pressure. Cinnamon and clove
     oils are prepared by this method.
  3. Direct steam distillation is similar to the second method but the
     steam is hotter and passed through the plant material at a higher
     pressure. This method is used for fresh plant material that has a high
     boiling point such as seeds, roots and wood. It is also used for fresh
     plant material such as peppermint and spearmint. The crop is cut and
     placed in a metal distilling tank on a truck. It is then taken to the
     distilling tank on the truck. Steam is forced through the fresh herbs
     and the oil droplets are carried by the steam through a vapor pipe at
     the top of the tank onto a cool condensing chamber.

Cold Pressing or Expression:
This method is mainly used to prepare citrus oils such as orange, lemon and
tangerine. One method involves puncturing the oil glands by rolling the
fruit over sharp projections that actually pierce the oil glands. The fruit
is then pressed which removes the oil from the glands. It is then washed
off with a fine spray of water.

The juice is extracted by another tube. The oil is then separated from the
water by rotating it at a very high speed. Another method involves
separating the peel from the fruits and then cold pressing them. The
Essential oil is collected along with small amounts of juice, which is
separated.

Enfleurage:
This is an old method which was used in the production of perfumes and
pomade extracts for perfumery. Flower petals such as rose or jasmine are
layered onto warm oils, cold fat or wax. This process is repeated each day
until the base is saturated with the Essential oil. The resulting waxes or
pastes contain up to 1 percent of Essential oil. The Essential oil is then
extracted from the wax with a volatile liquid such as ethyl alcohol. In the
final step the ethyl alcohol is evaporated at low temperatures and reduced
pressure so that the pure Essential oil remains as a fairly thick liquid.
Cold enfleurage has the advantage that even the most delicate components of
the flower oils are preserved. The disadvantages are that it is not very
effective and it is very expensive. Flower oils prepared with this method
do not contain terpene-hydrocarbons, which indicates that these compounds
are not present as such in the flower, but form during distillation.

Solvent Extraction
This is the most widely used modern method to prepare oils from flowers.
The petals are mixed into a volatile solvent such as petroleum, ether or
benzene, until the Essential oil is completely dissolved in the solvent.
The solution is then filtered and the solvent is evaporated at reduced
pressure. The result of solvent extraction is a concrete. The solvent is
removed from the concrete by vacuum pressure without the use of heat to
avoid any harmful effect to the oil. The concentrated essence that results
is called an absolute. Absolutes are highly concentrated flower products
without the natural waxes.

The main advantage of extraction over distillation is that uniform
temperatures are maintained throughout the process. High temperatures
during the distillation process can produce altered chemical composition of
the oil which alters the natural odor. However, this method is expensive
compared to distillation, and chemicals or solvents used in the process may
still be present after evaporation.

I know this is kind of lengthy but it is not a quick topic. Hope this
helps.

Dorene Petersen
Australasian College of Herbal Studies 1(800)48-STUDY

-----

From Rusty Taylor ([e-mail]):
Quoting 'Herbal Preparations and Natural Therapies' by Debra St. Claire:
'Glycerin will extract the following - sugars, enzymes (dilute),
glucosides, bitter compounds, saponins (dilute), and tannins. Absolute
alcohol will extract the following - alkaloids (some), glycosides, volatile
oils, waxes, resins, fats, some tannins, balsam, sugars, and vitamins.' I
am very much still a student, but it seems to me that you would use the
solvent that will give you the healing properties that you need out of the
plant. And for those that don't like the alcohol taste, or bite, the
tincture can be mixed in hot water and left for a few minutes to evaporate
most of the alcohol off. It has worked well for me, and my children.

==========
2.3.2 Pointer to the How-to of Tinctures
-----
Go get the latest edition of Michael Moore's Materia Medica from his WWW
site: http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE (also see 6.1 below).

If you wish to use anonymous FTP go to sunsite.unc.edu or to
sunsite.sut.ac.jp and cd to
/pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-medicine/SWSBM/

Go for the manuals.

==========
2.3.3 Herbal Oils
-----
From Dorene Petersen <[e-mail]>:

I have made quite a lot of infused oils and the following is from the
Aromatherapy Certificate Correspondence Course offered by the Australasian
College of Herbal Studies.

It's not that technical but hope its helpful:

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OWN INFUSED OILS AT HOME

There is nothing more satisfying than gathering a basket of fresh jasmine,
honeysuckle or rose blossoms on a warm summers day and then preparing your
own infused oil. There are three methods for preparing an infused herbal
oil. You can use fresh or dried herbs. Flowers are best fresh, although the
perfume of some flowers intensifies with drying such as gardenia, daphne
and boronia. If using fresh, double the quantity as all recipes given are
for dried herbs. If using fresh herbs for any of these methods leave the
herbs to wilt for six hours to reduce their water content which will spoil
the final product.

WATERBATH METHOD

15 gm (1/2 oz) dried or if fresh use 30 gm (1 oz) herb (this is the total
amount so if you are using a blend make sure you do not have more than
this)
1 cup of oil

Measure the herbs and oil and mix the oil to the herbs in a stainless steel
bowl. Heat over water bath (a saucepan 1/4 filled with water) also known as
a double boiler, which should be simmering. Make sure the bowl is not
sitting on the bottom of the pot but is floating in the water. Keep the lid
on the oil. Stir occasionally and simmer for 30 minutes. Watch the oil does
not get too hot. It should not smoke or bubble. It can burn easily and will
develop an acrid smell if it overheats, which is very difficult to
disguise. Strain through four layers of butter muslin or some other very
fine non-metal strainer. Strain twice if necessary as it is important to
get all herbs out of the oil to prevent the herbal oil from going rancid or
moldy. Essential oils can be added at this stage for perfume and added
therapeutic benefits.

SOLAR METHOD

Use the same quantities of herbs and oil as for the waterbath method or
approximately 3 tablespoons of finely cut herbs to 300ml (10 oz) of oil.
The quantity of herb can be increased to produce a stronger oil. Put the
herbs in a jar with a tight fitting lid and pour over the oil. Make sure
the herbs are completely covered with oil. Add one tablespoon of apple
cider vinegar or white wine to help break down the plant material. Leave
the jar to sit in the sun all day and in a warm cupboard at night for two
weeks. Strain through four layers of muslin. This process can be repeated
two to three times to give a stronger oil. The final product should be
strong enough to leave an aroma when massaged on the skin. Always test
infused oils on the skin. Don't rely on just your nose.

CROCKPOT METHOD

Use the same quantities of herbs and oil as for Waterbath method. Place the
herbs and oil in a crockpot and leave on a low heat for two hours. Follow
the recipe above for straining.

TO PRESERVE OILS

This is only necessary if you are preparing large quantities that you
intend to store.

  1. Add 1/4 tsp. simple tincture of Benzoin to 1 cup vegetable oil.
     Tincture of Benzoin is prepared from the gum of an Indonesian tree,
     Styrax Benzoin. Make sure it is simple tincture of Benzoin. Compound
     tincture of Benzoin, also known as Friars Balsam, is not suitable.
  2. Add 500 I.U. of natural mixed Tocopherols or Vitamin E to 1 cup of
     vegetable oil.

Dorene Petersen <[e-mail]>

==========
2.3.4 Balms and liniments
-----
> >Hi,I just wonder if anyone has any info about how to make your own balms
and liniments.

From: Shannon Brophy <[e-mail]>:

To make a liniment:
First infuse the plant in oil. Do this by baking at low heat (120-170
degrees) in a glass pan with herb and oil together, stir occasionally.
Then strain with cheesecloth and a funnel to separate plant material from
the oil. Squeeze out the cheesecloth. Then grate beeswax and add to hot
oil, maybe heating again over a double boiler on the stove. Pour the
viscous green stuff into jars and allow to cool. Can keep in the fridge for
a longer shelf life. Also, adding vitamin E oil to the mixture helps
preserve it.

Shannon Brophy, Midwife
visit the Roots & Wings Website at http://www.yoga.com

-----
From: Andy & Sharon <[e-mail]>:

One of the most popular liniments for muscle-, head- and backache is
Tigerbalm.
Tradition will have it that the Mongolian Horsemen from Genghis Khan,
roaming the plains of central Europe, had a very effective ointment against
saddle and back ache. Part of this ointment came from the Siberian Birch
Tree.
A mixture was made out of lard, camphor and birch tree oil. For ages this
ointment was in use and got quite famous.
At the end of the last century many products were replaced by synthetic
components. The useful part of the birch oil (methyl salicylate) and from
the camphor oil (the crystals) were available in synthetic form. This made
the ointment cheap and within reach for everyone.
A Chinese merchant composed a mixture of methylsalicylate, camphor crystals
and petroleum jelly which he called Tigerbalm. It became famous throughout
the Orient and parts of Europe under this name.
How to make it: First you have to make the oil. You can use it pure or add
it to petroleum jelly (vaseline) later on to make the balm.

Tigerbalm Oil - Natural - Recipe 1

Wintergreen oil  45 ml
Camphor oil      15 ml
Eucalyptus oil    7 ml
Lavender oil      5 ml
Peppermint oil    8 ml
Almond oil       20 ml

Tigerbalm Oil - Natural - Recipe 2

Peppermint oil   25 ml
Camphor oil      15 ml
Wintergreen oil  20 ml
Lavender oil     15 ml
Eucalyptus oil   15 ml
Jojoba oil       10 ml

Tigerbalm Oil - Partly natural

Methyl salicylate   25 ml
Menthol crystals     5 g
Camphor crystals    10 g
Eucalyptus oil      10 ml
Lavender oil         5 g
Paraffin oil       45 ml

Tigerbalm
To make tigerbalm take 100 gram Petroleum Jelly (vaseline) (acid free) and
melt this by placing, for instance a glass with Vaseline in a pan hot
water. The Vaseline will melt quickly (or use the microwave).
Once melted place the glass in a pan cold water and as soon as on the side
of the glass the Vaseline hardens again, add 20 ml of your Tigerbalm oil .
Stir until cooled down. If you prefer the balm to have a colour, add a drop
of chlorophyll.
It is used for headaches, apply a little bit to the forehead, for muscle
pains and after insect bites.

-----
>I find tiger balm/vaseline, to be too greasy for me. I created a simple
rub for my lower back pain (due to herniated disk) that provides some
relief. It consists of essential oil of Wintergreen, oil of St. John's
Wart, added to a base of Aloe Vera gel.
>The Aloe Vera gel is non-greasy and absorbs completely (to the touch).
This mixture also feels like it absorbs completely, and no staining of my
clothes as of yet.
>Can I make the above "Tigerbalm", but use the aloe vera gel?? As well, my
herb book indicated that oil of wintergreen is good for pain and
inflammation. Could you also post what the other herbs are targeted for??

From: [e-mail] to above:
I cannot see any reason why you should not use your gel; the vaseline is
used to hold the oils together.
Here are some ways the oils react with your skin; as you can see lavender
detoxifies, while eucalyptus vitalizes, peppermint refreshes etc.

Essential oils and how they affect your skin

1. GREASY SKIN

Sage      : relaxes, improves blood circulation
Peppermint: refreshes, cools
Valerian  : calms
Clove     : disinfects
Camphor   : Disinfects, sedating
Cypress   : Refreshing, relaxing

2. UNCLEAN SKIN

Cajeput    :  Improves perspiration
Rosemary   :  Improves blood circulation
Valerian   :  Calming
Camphor    :  Disinfects, sedates

3. THICK, PALE AND WEAK SKIN

Oregano   : Widens the blood vessels
Melissa   : Refreshes, tonic
Geranium  : Refreshing
Linden blossom : Soothing

4. INFECTED SKIN

Juniper   : Disinfects
Lavender  : Healing
Cajeput   : Improves perspiration
Fir       : Refreshes, regulates

5. SENSITIVE, THIN, QUICKLY IRRITATED SKIN

Cypress    : Relaxes, refreshes
Pine       : Balances, refreshes
Melissa    : Against cramps
Chamomile  : Sedating
Therebinth : Softening

6. TIRED SKIN

Lavender    : Detoxifying
Eucalyptus  : Vitalizing
Cajeput     : Improves perspiration
Verbena     : Calming
Lemongrass  : Improves blood circulation

7. BODY CARE (GENERAL)

Oregano   :  Strengthening
Thyme     :  Disinfecting
Mint      :  Tonic
Geranium  :  Refreshing

==========

2.4 Pointers to related documents

-----
I appreciate updates on below WWW / ftp addresses. Drop me a note if you
notice changes: [e-mail]. Thanks.

==========
2.4.1 Tinnitus FAQ pointer
-----
The tinnitus FAQ is found at http://www.cccd.edu/faq/tinnitus.html.

==========
2.4.2 Plants by Mail FAQ pointer
-----
Here you'll find lots and lots of catalogs to get living plants, and some
seeds, too: http://pbmfaq.dvol.com

==========
2.4.3 Carpal Tunnel Syndrome WWW page pointer
-----
Take a look at the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Home Page at
http://www.netaxs.com/~iris/cts and specifically, at
http://www.netaxs.com/~iris/cts/compfort.html

==========
2.4.4 Hint for Kombucha posters
-----
Please subscribe to the Kombucha list (see 8.4). Do not post on
alt.folklore.herbs about Kombucha.
There is also a nice www page on kombucha (actually there's lots, just use
a search engine): http://www.mindspring.com/~kir/kombucha/manna/

Then there's the Kombucha Homepage, which should answer anyone's questions
about the subject:
http://www.sease.com/kombucha

==========
2.4.5 Hint for Essiac posters
-----
You can find a wealth of info on Essiac at this web location:
http://www.livelinks.com/sumeria/health/essiac2.html

==========
2.4.6 Thinking of growing herbs for sale?
-----
Visit this site first: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/

It's the Gateway to the NewCrop Resource Online Program at the Indiana
Center for New Crops and Plant Products at Purdue University; it has lots
of information about different plants.

Then go get the 'herb-growing.faq' at sunsite (see 7.1 below).

==========
2.4.7 Saw Palmetto and Prostata Problems: Newsgroup/FAQ pointer
-----
Try news:alt.support.prostate.prostatitis, where they also have an
excellent FAQ posted periodically.

==========
2.4.8 Natural High FAQ pointer
-----
Go get it by ftp from the alt.drugs archive at hyperreal.com /drugs/faqs/ -
and take the other interesting stuff as well while you're there.

==========
2.4.9 Natural vision FAQ pointer
-----
This interesting document can be found by WWW:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/~vicc/home.html or
http://silver.ucs.indiana.edu/~aeulenbe/home.html, or email
[e-mail]

It's posted roughly monthly to sci.med, sci.med.vision and alt.self-help.

==========
2.4.10 Smoking herbs document pointer
-----
You'll find Howie Brounstein's herbal smoking mixtures -booklet on Howie's
Homepage: http://www.teleport.com/~howieb/howie.html
or by FTP on sunSITE: ftp to sunsite.unc.edu or sunsite.sut.ac.jp, logon as
anonymous, use your email address as password, go to directory
/pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-
medicine/Howie_Brounstein/

It's about 47 kB.

==========
2.4.11 Gout FAQ pointer
-----
The Gout FAQ is on the Rheumatology Page:
http://www.crl.com/~fredt/rheum.html

==========
2.4.12 Pointer to herbal-medical glossary
-----
I got email 'yes but what does MAO inhibitor and adrenergenics and
cholinergics mean?' ... so here's a pointer to Michael Moore's medicinese -
English dictionary:
http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/ManualsMM/MedHerbGloss2.txt
you get there from Michael Moore's Clinical Herb Manuals page:
http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/ManualsMM/MansMM.html

==========

2.5 Other topics that are frequently discussed

==========
2.5.1 Melatonin
-----
from Paul Bergner ([e-mail]), Editor, Medical Herbalism:

I'm not surprised that melatonin is gone in Canada, and I predict that it
will go the way of DHEA here in the U.S. -- meaning that it will be a
prescription-only controlled item, treated like opiates.

I've just researched and written a lengthy article about melatonin, and
frankly I am shocked that natural healers would use this substance casually
like a sleeping pill. Melatonin is a powerful hormone that affects the
entire metabolic cycle, not just the sleep- wake cycle. We rail against
hormone-replacement therapy with estrogen- progresterone, and then casually
offer patients enough melatonin to raise blood levels 10-20 times their
normal levels. This is bound to be a Devil's bargain, and it is only a
matter of time till regulatory agencies throughout the world discover this
and rightfully take measures to protect the public.

For instance: melatonin production by the pineal gland appears to be an
important part of the aging clock. The pineal glands of young mice,
transplanted to old mice, make the old mice "younger" and they live about
1/3 longer. On the other hand, the pineal glands of older mice,
transplanted into younger mice, immediately makes them "older" and they
live about 1/3 shorter lives.

So what happens when some guy named Joe in Iowa takes ten mg of melatonin
(about twenty times what you need to achieve normal blood level peaks) to
sleep most nights for three years (this is actually happening all over the
place today) and then can't get the melatonin? Will his pineal have lost
its ability to produce the same levels as previously? Most hormones have a
negative feedback loop of one sort or another -- would levels that high
reduce endogenous production over time? Will poor Joe then age ten years
over the next few months?

I think melatonin has a proper place in natural medicine, in the treatment
or palliation of cancer, used for brief periods for jet lag, and possible
for the elderly, and may be a few more uses. But IMO over-the-counter
status is inviting health disaster.

==========

3 General Info

==========

3.1 Introduction to side effects, safety and toxicity of medicinal herbs

-----
by Jonathan Treasure ([e-mail])

This introduction concerns WESTERN medical herbs and their clinical use.
Some herbal agents are common to different traditions but the indications
and methods of use may vary between e.g. TCM, Ayurvedic and Western
practices.

The purpose of these notes is to provide a general understanding of the
actions of herbal medicines, and hence a background for understanding
questions of safety and toxicity - NOT to provide a list of problematic
herbs. A brief bibliography gives sources of reliable information on the
safety of herbal medicine and further reading.

-----
Conventional medicine considers that if a drug is to be effective, it will
inevitably have side effects. The medical establishment considers herbal
medicines as drugs, and as such, they must either have side effects - or
ergo be ineffective.

Paradoxically tens of thousands of people every year turn to herbal
medicine because they regard plant remedies as being free from undesirable
side effects. Herbal medicines are considered to be generally safe AND
effective agents.

Although there is a spectrum of viewpoints in western herbal medicine, most
herbalists reject the view that plant medicines are naturally occurring
analogues of the pharmaceuticals used in orthodox clinical medicine i.e.
drugs.

This is ultimately a rejection of the dominant paradigm of orthodox
clinical science. It is necessary to outline the elements of the
alternative paradigm shared by most herbalists, before questions of
toxicity and safety can be discussed in context of clinical herbal
therapeutics, rather than of orthodox medical science

==========
3.1.1 Medicinal plant actions cannot be reduced to the effects of their
isolated 'active constituents'
-----
There ARE a few plants that are almost "drug like" and whose action
approaches that of pharmaceuticals. Digitalis is the classic example.
Herbalists use these plants in near allopathic treatment strategies if at
all, and in some countries e.g. UK, their availability is restricted by
law. The number of herbs in this category is relatively few.

The vast majority of medicinal herbs contain dozens of different compounds,
often of great complexity, mucilages, tannins, polysaccharides etc. that
buffer, modulate and modify the effects of any "active principles". Study
after study has shown that effects produced by extracts of whole plants
cannot be mimicked by administering isolated purified constituents of the
plant.

(It is ironic this proposition even has to be asserted given that
biological sciences have for some time used a systems theory model in which
the whole being greater than the sum of the parts is axiomatic - this
simply reflects the inherent conservatism of the medical establishment.
However for most herbalists the view of the whole being greater than the
parts is derived from vitalism, not systems theory!)

==========
3.1.2 Medicinal herbs act 'multi-systemically'
-----
Pharmaceutical drugs are designed to elicit very specific reactions. Their
associated "side effects" are undesired actions, usually traded as a "risk"
against the "benefit" of the primary effect. Herbs tend to have several
broad actions on a number of whole physiological systems at the same time.
These actions are usually oriented in the same general therapeutic
direction, and are usually complementary or synergistic, often
non-specific, and very rarely adverse. Herb actions cannot be adequately
described using the vocabulary of "drug" action terms, e.g. diuretic etc. -
they are too complex. The clearest example of this is the coining of the
term "adaptogenic " used to describe the multiple non-specific effects of
herbs such as Ginseng.

==========
3.1.3 Herbs act on the healing processes in the body
-----
A pharmaceutical drug addresses symptoms caused by specific disease
mechanisms as understood by scientific pathology. Herbal medicines are
directed towards aiding the body's own healing processes. These approaches
are diametrically opposed. Herbal medicines act gently, usually attempting
to "nudge" or "support" systems and processes that have become deficient or
help remove excesses that have become preponderant. Symptom relief is only
a component of herbal therapeutic strategy.

This is a crucial difference. For example, serum arthritic conditions are
conventionally treated with steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. These have
widespread and disturbing side effects, which at sustained high doses
become intolerable and potentially dangerous if not lethal. The herbal
approach to these conditions uses dietary modification of metabolism;
facilitation of elimination via kidneys and hepatic/ biliary routes;
stimulation of circulation in the affected regions, moistening of dry
synovia, etc. Topical treatments for acute joint pain or systemic
anti-inflammatory herbs that help joint pain are used as required, but this
is not the thrust of the treatment strategy. Lay persons often make the
related mistake of seeking a "natural alternative" to a pharmaceutical they
have been prescribed rather than challenging the diagnosis and therapeutic
strategy.

==========
3.1.4 Herbs act multi-dimensionally
-----
Herbal medicine is a wholistic therapy, it integrates mental, emotional and
spiritual levels seamlessly into its understanding of both human function
and of the plant remedy, while respecting the planetary and ecological
dimensions of natural medicine provided by plants. Although subject to
differing interpretations this view is held in one form or another by most
herbalists .

Life style, mental, emotional and spiritual considerations are part of any
naturopathic approach, herbalism included. Flower essences, homeopathic
preparations and drop doses of standard herb extracts all demonstrate that
herbal agents can produce consistent and powerful effects at subtle levels
in ways quite inexplicable by the pharmacokinetic model underlying orthodox
pharmacology.

Centuries of medicinal plant usage overarch even the Graeco - Roman
heritage of medical thought, itself already forgotten by its amnesiac
infant technological medicine, extending into magical, esoteric and
religious domains of prehistory. The great Asian systems of medicine have
continued uninterrupted for thousands of years to today, integrated into
profound cosmological and philosophical systems. From any serious study of
the application of herbs to healing a perspective emerges that reveals
modern doctors to be tragicomically "like educated peasants running around
pretending to be chiefs" (Grossinger).

==========
3.1.5 Side effects vs. contraindications
-----
Many herbalists would tend toward the radical homeopathic view that the
"side effects" of orthodox medicine are in fact iatrogenic developments of
the very disease for which the pharmacological intervention was intended.
The symptoms simply change, and the real underlying dysfunction is further
obscured - or driven further into the interior to manifest in deeper and
more intractable ways.

Notwithstanding this iatrogenic view of side effects, we have seen that the
use of herbs anyway does not generally involve "drug" actions or adverse
effects. Of course, if the body processes are nudged in the wrong direction
for long enough, then imbalances can worsen rather than improve. Hence the
need for informed knowledge of the effects of herbs as well as a clinical
training to understand their appropriate medical application. Herbalists
learn about the CONTRAINDICATIONS as well as the indications for using a
herb. This term is more useful and appropriate than "side effects".

CONTRAINDICATIONS are incongruences between the metabolic/systemic
predisposition (constitution) of the individual - and the spectrum of
multi-systemic actions of a given herb agent or class of agents.
Essentially, herbalists use their in depth knowledge to devise a
mix'n'match prescription tailored precisely to fit an individuals unique
profile. This approach is most sophisticated in the tonic energetics of the
Oriental medical traditions, but is empirically applied by most herbalists.

Contraindicated remedies can account for apparently idiosyncratic "bad
reactions" to a herb. Valerian is a classic example, its powerful autonomic
effects can make it "disagree" with stressed adrenergically hyperactive
individuals, who paradoxically are often those seeking sedative treatment
for insomnia. Anyone experiencing such reactions to a herb for more than a
couple of days should stop taking it and seek further advice. However a
second and vital aspect of contraindications especially today is the
question of DRUG INTERACTIONS.

Many people seeking herbal medical treatment are already involved in
pharmaceutical therapies. Herbal remedies may act either as agonists or
potentiate some drug therapies, and an understanding of conventional drugs
is an essential prerequisite for effective herbal therapeutics. In many
cases, herbalists would not treat the primary presenting symptom undergoing
drug treatment - be it ulcers treated with Zantac or cardiac arrythmia
treated with Digoxin - but rather concentrate on supporting other systems
and functions stressed by the primary symptom. This allows the body to
recover its strength and healing potential so it can then direct these
capabilities toward repairing the presenting condition. In other cases, it
can be a priority to wean someone off drugs, e.g. steroids, in which case
supportive therapy to restore adrenal function is vital.

==========
3.1.6 Safety and toxicity of herbal medicines
-----
The definition of *toxic* is a ultimately a matter of viewpoint. Many
ordinary foods contain constituents that could be regarded as poisonous,
such as the alpha gliadin produced by gluten in wheat oats and rye, the
cyanogenic glycosides in many fruit seeds, the thiocyanates of the brassica
vegetables, alkaloids of the Solanaceae and lectins of many pulses
including soya and red kidney beans. Nonetheless these foods are generally
regarded as safe. Similarly, both water and oxygen - can kill in excessive
amounts, so quantity is often an important consideration. In practice
however, three groups of herbs can be identified from a safety point of
view.

Firstly there are a handful of herbs that contain near pharmaceutical
concentrations of poisonous constituents which should on no account be
taken internally by unqualified persons except in homeopathic potencies.
Examples are Atropa belladonna, Arnica spp, Aconitum spp, Digitalis spp. In
many countries availability of these herbs is limited by law. Regulations
vary from country to country and the appropriate regulatory authorities or
Herb Organisations can be consulted for details. Wildcrafters should be
unshakably confident in their identification of the local variants of these
species, and children warned to avoid them. Fortunately this is a
numerically tiny category.

Secondly, are herbs with powerful actions, often causing nausea or
vomiting, (that usually were traditionally prized for this action). They
are perfectly safe used under appropriate conditions. Some of these herbs
are restricted in some countries but freely available in others. Lobelia
and Eonymus spp are examples. There is some inconsistency here, for example
Ephedra is restricted, perhaps with justification, in the UK, but is freely
available in the US.

Finally, there is an idiosyncratic grouping of herbs which have been
alleged, with some scientific support, to exhibit specific kinds of
toxicity. The best known is the hepatotoxicity of
pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-containing plants such as Comfrey (Symphytum). Other
examples are Dryopteris (Male Fern), Viscum (Mistletoe) and Corynanthe
(Yohimbe). Although much of the evidence is contentious (see below), lay
users would be advised to avoid internal consumption of these herbs.

The vast majority of medical herbs are safe for consumption, but for those
without specialised knowledge, it would be prudent to follow simple but
sensible guidelines in self treatment:

   * Use only herbs recommended in respected herb books, especially in
     countries like the US where there are few restrictions on
     availability.
   * Avoid new or unproven *wonder remedies*.
   * Do not persist with a remedy if no benefit or result obtains after a
     moderate period, and if adverse reactions take place, stop the
     treatment and seek experienced advice.
   * Do not persist with a treatment that has brought improvement without
     testing to see if continued further consumption is necessary to
     maintain improvement.
   * Do not engage in self treatment for complex conditions without
     experienced advice. Drug interactions and contraindications must be
     considered on an individual basis and herbal treatment strategies are
     often involved and multifaceted.

Unfortunately, training and licensing of herbalists is not internationally
consistent. In the US the situation is especially complex - no recognised
herbal licensing exists. ND's are licensed in a few states, but their
herbal training could theoretically be less than that of an unlicensed but
experienced herbal practitioner. In the UK, the NIMH accredits herbalists
who have trained at approved courses: practitioners are recognised by MNIMH
or FNIMH qualifications.

==========
3.1.7 Pregnancy
-----
It is axiomatic that pregnancy should be a time of minimal medical
intervention, and herbalists in particular regard pregnancy as a
"contraindication" to taking herbal medicines. Nutritive "food herbs" such
as nettle, and uterine tonics such as raspberry leaf are encouraged, and
perhaps gentle treatments against typical symptoms such as constipation or
morning sickness are in order. There is NO evidence of teratogenicity in
humans arising from herbal remedies, but since such evidence would be hard
to come by, erring on the side of caution is regarded as prudent.

==========
3.1.8 Understanding toxicity research - politics and ideology
-----
Medical orthodoxy at best does not understand herbal medicine, and at
worst, sees it as a threat which it attempts to rubbish, regulate or
ridicule. Quackery has a fascinating role in the history of medicine and
its institutions, but much of the hostility towards herbal medicine comes
from its apparently greater proximity to orthodoxy than say acupuncture or
homeopathy. This is the unfortunate political context in which toxicity and
safety of herbal medicines are debated.

Additionally, both professional herbalists and regulatory authorities
exhibit differing degrees of education, organisation and aptitude in
different countries. In the United States, the situation is particularly
lamentable, with scare mongering stories regularly aired in medical,
scientific and popular press, whilst the lack of accredited professional
herbalist training means that well intentioned self-appointed spokespersons
for herbalism can cause more harm than good, and the quixotic federal
regulatory stance on herbs as foodstuffs means that the potential of lay
self-iatrogenesis with freely available OTC herbal products is a serious
possibility.

Toxicity of herbal medicines needs to be seen in context however. As Paul
Bergner, Editor of the journal Medical Herbalism and author of several
articles on herbal toxicity recently pointed out:

*Approximately 8% of all hospital admissions in the U.S. are due to adverse
reactions to synthetic drugs. That's a minimum of 2,000,000. At least
100,000 people a year die from them. That's just in the U.S., and that's a
conservative estimate. That means at least three times as many people are
killed in the U.S. by pharmaceutical drugs as are killed by drunken
drivers. Thousands die each year from supposedly "safe" over-the-counter
remedies. Deaths or hospitalizations due to herbs are so rare that they're
hard to find. The U.S. National Poison Control Centers does not even have a
category in their database for adverse reactions to herbs.*

Similar figures apply in the United Kingdom, and even hepatoxicity, where
perhaps the strongest case against some herbs lies, the statistics are
horrendously clear - over 80% of cases of fulminant hepatic failure
presenting for liver transplant (or death) over ten years in the UK were
due to poisoning by freely available OTC non-prescription NSAID's, such as
paracetomol and aspirin. Not one case was due to ingestion of medicinal
herbs.

For the lay person, analysis of so called "scientific evidence" about
toxicity is clearly problematic. Some of the most useful sources of
information are to be found in review presentations made by representatives
of the herbalist community to regulatory authorities such as the FDA or
MCA. Informative reviews of the literature in defence of Comfrey and
Mistletoe have been made in this way.

Herbalists justifiably point out that scientific studies with isolated
compounds, on non human or even non mammalian organisms, or in vitro, with
doses tens or even hundreds of times the equivalent medicinal dose, simply
have no arguable extrapolation to the clinical situation using whole herb
at appropriate medicinal doses.

Lack of herbal knowledge by some scientific investigators (let alone
journalists or self appointed defenders of the public) leads to often
ludicrously misleading results - one of the commonest mistakes being the
failure to verify the actual identity of plant material used in their
experiments, let alone the detection of contaminants!

These points beg the question of what paradigm can be used for research
into the safety and efficacy of herbal therapies. That shibboleth of
orthodoxy - the double blind placebo controlled clinical trial is open to a
range of criticisms from the paradigm employed by herbalists - but that, as
they say, is another story.

==========
3.1.9 Further reading
-----
HERBAL /MEDICAL CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Synergistic and Iatrogenic Potentials when some herbs are used concurrent
with Medical Treatment or Medical Health Care by Michael Moore, 1995, on
line at http://chili.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE

HERB INFORMATION RESOURCE:
The Information Source book of Herbal Medicine: David Hoffmann, Crossing
Press 1994.

TOXICOLOGY:
Brinker F : An Introduction to the Toxicology of Common Botanical
Medicines, NCNM 1983
AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants AMA, Chicago 1985
NAPRALERT database at UIC.

Example REVIEWS OF PROBLEMATIC HERBS:
In Defence of Comfrey: EJHM1.1 1994 11-17
The Case For Mistletoe: EJHM1.1 1994 17-22
EJHM = European Journal of Herbal Medicine (see 4.3 below)

HISTORY:
Planet Medicine - Richard Grossinger, North Atlantic Books 1990
The Magical Staff, Matthew Wood North Atlantic Books, Berkely 1992

GENERAL HERB BOOKS:
(as in 4.1 below):
J.A. Duke, CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs.
C. Hobbs, many booklets.
D. Hoffmann, The Herbal Handbook.
S. Mills, Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbalism.
M. Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West.
M. Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West.
M. Moore, Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West.
R.F. Weiss, Herbal Medicine.

==========

3.2 Wildcrafting Ethics

-----
by Howie Brounstein ([e-mail]) (posted with permission)

This are the guidelines I teach to my students. It is copyrighted material
that took me years to develop. Please respect this copyright. I ask you not
to publish it without permission. Happy Herbing.

==========
3.2.1 Wildcrafting checklist
-----

   * Do you have the permission or the permits for collecting at the site?
   * Do you have a positive identification?
   * Are there better stands nearby? Is the stand big enough?
   * Are you at the proper elevation?
   * Is the stand away from roads and trails?
   * Is the stand healthy?
   * Is there any chemical contamination?
   * Is there any natural contamination?
   * Are you in a fragile environment?
   * Are there rare, threatened, endangered, or sensitive plants growing
     nearby at any time of the year?
   * Is wildlife foraging the stand?
   * Is the stand growing, shrinking, or staying the same size?
   * Is the plant an annual or a perennial?
   * Is tending necessary and what kind?
   * How much to pick?
   * Time of day? Time of year?
   * What effect will your harvest have on the stand?
   * Do you have the proper emotional state?
   * Move around during harvesting.
   * Look around after harvesting. Any holes or cleanup needed?
   * Are you picking herbs in the proper order for a long trip?
   * Are you cleaning herbs in the field? Do you have the proper equipment
     for in-field processing?
   * Wildcrafting is stewardship

c1993hb

==========
3.2.2 How do I find out about endangered plants (in the USA)?
-----
Check your local Heritage Program Database, call the Dept. of AG or a local
Native plant society chapter to find its address. This will connect you to
experts on particular plants and current lists.

The endangered species act has many flaws, I personally believe there
should be an endangered ecosystems act instead but it's all we've got and
better than nothing.

Some listed plants are truly rare, once numerous but destroyed by loss of
habitat through man or nature.

Many listed plants are endemics, located in a specific area. These may be
geographically isolated islands of flora as are often found in the
intermountain west, or they can be found at the border of major plant
systems. Many endemics are found in southern Oregon, where the Northern
California system blends with the Pacific Northwest system, with a
spattering of Great Basin plants. This does not mean these plants are
sensitive, just unique. The threatened Penstemon peckii grows only within
twenty miles of my house, and nowhere else on earth.

It can withstand trampling, wildlife grazing, and disturbance. In fact, now
that the forest service has realized that this species thrives with
moderate disturbance (partial cuts), it has become a reason to log, i.e.
increased health of the population of this plant.

Plants become listed due to political boundaries. Gentiana newberryi grows
nearby, and is threatened in Oregon. It's northernmost sighting is within a
half hours drive. There you can see people play football on it, run horses
on it, pick its beautiful flowers only to find they wilt immediately, and
then the flowers end up on the ground.

Sometimes hundreds of them. Elk graze it heavily. It isn't a sensitive
plant, and it's population is healthy and stable in California, but the
population happens to cross over to Oregon where there isn't that many
stands. Thus it receives the same protection as the truly rare plant.
Southern Oregon has many of these kinds of listed plants.

There has to be a perceivable threat to the plant population in order for
it to be listed. Sometimes the threat is obvious, and sometimes the threat
is obscure.

What about an introduced plant that has become a pest, or a native out of
control in a system out of balance. When the St. John's Wort, Hypericum
perforatum, is down to a handful of populations, it will fit the definition
of threatened, even though humans intentionally irradicated it!!

==========
3.2.3 What plants shouldn't I pick?
-----
Some plants are not damaged easily. Blackberry (Rubus sp.), and Dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale), are two that are nearly impossible to eliminate,
even if you dig their roots. If a piece of root stays in the ground, it
will grow back. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), can be cut with a lawnmower
and still flourish regularly. Nettles (Urtica dioca), when grown for fiber
can have 3-4 aboveground harvest in a growing season. Plants that fit into
this category are generally perennials. You can pick them and not threaten
their survival.

Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants

Endangered plants are species in danger of becoming extinct in the
foreseeable future. Threatened plants are likely to become endangered in
the foreseeable future. A species can be threatened or endangered
throughout its range, which means if it goes extinct we will lose its
hidden secrets forever.

Many of these plants only grow in one special area (endemic). The Columbia
Gorge on the border of Oregon and Washington hosts many endemic species.
Peck's Penstemon, Penstemon peckii, grows only in the Ponderosa Pine Forest
in Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. A species can also receive protection
for part of its range. Newberry's Gentian, Gentiana newberryi, has stable
populations in California, but is listed as threatened in Oregon. Deschutes
County is at the end of its range, and there are less of them. Rare plants
have small, localized populations. They may not be listed as threatened or
endangered if the populations are both stable and numerous.

The US. Fish and Wildlife Service determines which plants receive federal
protection. Unfortunately, they are very slow in reviewing candidate
species.

Many have become extinct while waiting to be listed. The Department of
Agriculture and the Department of Fish and Wildlife of each state is
responsible for determining state protection. We also have the Oregon
Natural Heritage Program. This program has its own list of plants that
deserve protection, but haven't made it into the clogged federal and state
lists. They also have a list of plants to watch and monitor. A copy of
Rare, Threatened and Endangered Plants and Animals of Oregon is available
from:

The Oregon Natural Heritage Program
1025 NW 25th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97210
(503)-229-5078

Do not pick these plants. Unfortunately, they are not always easy for an
amateur to identify. They are not always showy. There may be large amounts
of them in one spot, so that they appear plentiful.

There are some good picture books available. All folks who pick plants from
the wild should try to familiarize themselves with the local protected
plants. When in doubt, don't pick it.

Sensitive Plants

Some plants are sensitive to disturbance. Please do not pick them even if
they aren't protected. The Calypso Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, is a fragile
plant that lives partially off leaf mold. Its little root is close to the
surface, and easy prey to slugs and others. Minor disturbances can easily
dislodge the root from the mold. If someone picks its flower, it can ooze
fluid and essentially "bleed" to death. Even disturbing the area around it
during flowering could kill it. The law does not protect this plant because
it is too numerous.

It is our responsibility to help sensitive plants survive.

How can you tell if a plant is sensitive? Most plants that are not green
(contain no chlorophyll) are "no picks." These weird species are white,
brown, red, or purple and just plain eerie. Botanists call them parasites
or saprophytes. They are particularly fascinating. These include Broomrape,
Orobanche sp., Coral Roots, Corallorhiza sp., and Indian Pipe, Monotropa
uniflora. Other "no picks" include the Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) and
almost all the Lily Family (Liliaceae). The Orchid Family includes Calypso
Orchid, Calypso bulbosa, and the Rein Orchids, Habenaria sp. The Lily
Family includes Trillium, Trillium ovatum, and Mariposa Lilies, Calochortus
sp. These families are easy to recognize with a little practice. Not every
Lily and Orchid is sensitive, but it's a good place to start.

Most (but not all) of the unusual or showy plants are no picks. If you are
not sure, don't harvest it.

Howie B
Columbines and Wizardry Herbs
Eugene, Or USA

==========
3.2.4 United Plant Savers
-----
From Gregg Pond <[e-mail]>:

United Plant Savers - Statement of Purpose

These are exciting times for herbalists. The current "herbal renaissance"
in American health care is accompanied by an ever growing demand by the
American public for herbs an herbal products. While positive on one hand,
this situation has endangered a unique new set of problems for the wild
plant world and for herbalists who love plants.

The pressure on our wild medicinal plant communities is growing yearly.
Vast numbers of plants have been and continue to be taken, and
indiscriminate wild harvesting has devastated many areas of former
abundance. Perhaps even more disturbing, native North American medicinal
plants are being exported to meet the demand in other countries, where wild
plant populations have already been gravely depleted.

United Plant Savers was formed in a spirit of hope, as a group of
herbalists committed to protecting and re-planting threatened species and
to raising public awareness of the plight of our wild medicinal plants. Our
membership reflects the great diversity of American herbalism and includes
wildcrafters, seed collectors, manufacturers, growers, botanists,
practitioners, medicine-makers, educators, and plant lovers from all walks
of life.

Our Goals

   * Identify and compile information on threatened medicinal plants in
     each state and/or bioregion.
   * Make this information accessible to herbal organizations, communities
     and individuals.
   * Provide resources for obtaining seeds, roots, and plants for
     replanting and restoration.
   * Secure land trusts for the preservation of diversity and seed stock
     for future propagation efforts.
   * Raise public awareness about the tragedy of over-harvesting and the
     current plight of native wild herbs.
   * Identify and disseminate information on the therapeutic alternatives
     to threatened species.
   * Encourage more widespread cultivation of endangered medicinal plants
     and greater use of cultivated plants.
   * Develop programs for school systems and communities to re-plant
     threatened plant species back into their native habitats.

For Membership information send E-mail to: [e-mail],
check this webpage: http://members.aol.com/upsavers/, or snailmail to:
United Plant Savers
P.O. Box 420
East Barre, VT 05649
USA

==========
End of part 5 of 7
==========
--
Henriette Kress             [e-mail]            Helsinki, Finland
http://sunsite.unc.edu/herbmed FTP: sunsite.unc.edu or sunsite.sut.ac.jp
      /pub/academic/medicine/alternative-healthcare/herbal-medicine/
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