Tonic herbs

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Durkee explained the tonic herbs served to do.53 When the Hoxsey team called its first patient witness to the stand, the defense objected strenuously with the rationale that laypeople are not qualified to testify to their own medical condition. "The patient endorsement," agreed Robert Heath of the Dallas County Medical Society, "is really not the best way to evaluate a medical treatment or procedure. Oftentimes these individuals are not knowledgeable enough in their own health to realize that they're not the ones to make the best assessment.

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See "Tonic Herbs.") Over a lifetime, a woman could take 1 or 2 capsules a day as a tonic. It is believed to favor the estrogen cycle. It is not to be used during pregnancy. Wild yam—This herb comes from Mexico, although it also has grown in the southeast United States and Appalachia. It is part of the yam family, and some of its constituents were used to synthesize birth-control pills and steroid drugs. It is believed to be progesteronic (supportive of the body's progesterone cycle) but is a useful tonic for a variety of women's conditions.

Again, for a complete list of liver tonic herbs, see pages 330-335. Bacteria Takes a Beating Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) Goldenseal is one of the most misunderstood herbs among "sometime herb consumers," and as a result is the nucleus of a great deal of myth and misuse. Goldenseal is not a great immune boostet. It is not a long-term tonic. It is a poisoner of microbes and an anti-inflammatory (especially for mucous membranes). There is no purpose in taking goldenseal unless you have a bacterial or parasitic infection, gastrointestinal problem, or membrane inflammation.

We like tonic herbs because to us they represent the very essence of what herbs are about, first and foremost: prevention. Tonics are focused primarily on keeping you well (although many have secondary uses as medicines for already sick people). Thus natural medicine is the exclusive domain of tonic substances. Conventional medicine doesn't have substances that perform a tonic (preventive/building/enhancing) function, since it has historically been geared toward disease treatment, not health enhancement.

In terms of herbal energetics and tastes, tonic herbs are usually moistening and usually sweet, salty, and/or sour. Herbs with these tastes are generally anabolic, which means they build or increase tissue mass. (Herbs with bitter, pungent, or astringent tastes are usually drying, light, and cata-bolic, decreasing mass or detoxifying.) Thus one definition of a tonic—the criterion used in most ethnic healing systems—is an herb that, with long-term use, is "building" in some way.

Some tonic herbs are adaptogens. Russian scientist Israel Brekhman, M.D., who initiated some of the first research on ginseng in the 1940s, first used the term adaptogen and showed the connection between stress and immune function. Dr. Hans Selye gave further definition to the concept and won a Nobel prize for his work in this area. Selye coined the term adaptations energy, stating that when this energy is depleted, performance is limited and resistance to disease is reduced.

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This brings up the point that people are used to thinking of medicinal herbs as being completely free of side effect, but this is simply not true. Only tonic herbs are clear of adverse reactions. There are further costs. Pygeum is taken from areas in Africa where the environment has been weakened by industrial farming. Besides, people who are politically conscious about how they spend their consumer dollars may not want to support some of the things going on where these plants are harvested.

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I generally prescribe herbs in the first two classifications—herbs that strengthen the individual's constitution and vitality and tonic herbs, adaptogens, and herbal immune enhancers—at the first stage of treatment, Tonic Therapy. Next, I prescribe herbs for the second stage, Liver and Lymph Detoxification. These are the herbs classified as antioxidant, liver-detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antiangio-genic, alternative, and lymphatic.

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The founder of the institute has developed a specific herbal combination, which combines strong tonic herbs with those that fight inflammation and infection. Of 150 patients who have undergone therapy with this herbal formula over three months, 76 percent experienced an increase of energy, and 62 percent of the patients who suffered from diarrhea saw a cessation of the problem. Other symptoms were similarly improved. Dr. Chang of the Sun Yat Sen Medical Center also found a mix of Chinese herbs to work strenuously against AIDS.

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Primarily, I gave her digestive nervines and tonic herbs like catnip, lemon balm, and tilia flowers. Within three days, she went from 11 stools per day to two per day. I A DIVERSITY OF HERBAL TRADITIONS There is a great diversity and richness in the various herbal traditions of the world, some of which still thrive today. Native American cultures contain a cornucopia of healing wisdom as do European traditions, from the Welsh to the Sicilian. There are a number of highly developed medical systems around the world that utilize medicinal plants in their healing work.

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When using mild tonic herbs take up to five droppersful in a glass of water 2 to 3 times a day; for a more intense herb use anywhere from 10 to 25 drops 3 to 4 times a day. Making Glycerites Using Dried Plant Material * It is important to clean and wipe off the rim of the jar thoroughly before placing the lid on and tightening it down. After wiping the rim it is even advisable to place a piece of waxed paper between the rim and the lid as a gasket. This assures that you will have a tight seal preventing the loss of any menstruum that can occur due to constant shaking of the liquid contents.

The "goods" are therapeutic and tonic herbs, and "there" are those inner body parts that, when signaling for help, are soothed and nourished by an herb being placed right up against them, or at least as close to them as physicaUy possible. A bolus can be inserted directly into the vagina to soothe infections and treat inflammation of the cervix and other inner vaginal tissues, or it can be inserted into the rectum to soothe and tone mildly or highly disturbed prostate glands in males, or to soothe and shrink hemorrhoids and cysts in anyone.

Medicinal herbs used in boluses can be strong astringents, such as White Oak bark, used to contract, firm, and strengthen tissues and to reduce secretions and discharge; demulcent and mild astringents such as Comfrey root or Marshmallow root used to relax, soothe, protect, and heal tissues; antimicrobial tonics hke Goldenseal, Echinacea, and Chaparral, used to prevent and allay infection while toning body tissues; and/or distinct tonic herbs such as Saw Palmetto, which is often used with Echinacea to soothe and tone an infected or otherwise disturbed prostate gland.

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Generally, tonic herbs are used for their strengthening and fortifying effects on various organs in the body. These include ginseng, codonopsis, dong quai, lycii berries, hawthorn, astragalus, jujube dates, peony, atractylodes, cornus, schisandra, dioscorea and ho shou wu. There are two ways to make an herbal wine. One, which is simple and easy, entails making a tincture of the herbs in brandy, burgundy or rice wine. The other involves making a wine from scratch with the herbs, water, yeast and sugar. Dandelion and fruit wines are well known in this form.

Indications: skin diseases, psoriasis, urticaria, eczema, jaundice, constipation, wounds, anemia Projects: tea, tincture, capsule, syrup with blackstrap molasses, poultice Chinese herbs are extremely useful to us in the West as they include many tonics which are, as yet, rarely found in Western herbalism. tonic herbs build strength, prevent disease from occurring, balance the body's energy, strengthen the disease-recovery process and nourish the blood and substance of the body.

Therefore, few Western tonic herbs have been identified. Because deficiencies in the body need to be handled from a building rather than eliminative approach, Chinese herbs with their thousands of years of use and understanding are perfect for this. Since more and more Western herbalists are beginning to understand this, Chinese herbs are becoming increasingly easy to find in herbal stores throughout the United States, and even in other Western countries. Many are even being grown here, and some day soon we should have readily available organically grown Chinese herbs.

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Many herbalists use other terms, such as tonic and adaptogen. tonic herbs restore, nourish, and suppfort individual organs or the entire body. Adaptogens help restore balance in the body, particularly helping it to adapt to stress, be it physical, environmental, or emotional. An adaptogen can make adjustments on the plus or the minus side. Let's say you're feeling run-down and sluggish—or just the opposite: stressed-out and wired. Although the symptoms seem totally different, the cause may be the same—adrenal glands that are not working optimally, says Dr. Brett.

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The Chinese use these and other tonic herbs in food, as part of their daily diets. Soups are common ways to get the benefits of Chinese herbs while enjoying a tasty meal. Astragalus, due to its warm, sweet, yellow color and flavor—its almost chicken-soup-like and buttery qualities—is a classic soup broth base to try, but dong quai, schizandra, and ligusticum can also be used this way. Ginseng, licorice, and others may be added to soups and stews, or grains can be cooked in their broth. A spoonful of soup helps the medicine go down. Your family may not even notice it's medicine.

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However, as it stimulates menstrual bleeding, other tonic herbs, such as nettle (Urtica dioica, p. 145), are best taken during menstruation if the flow is heavy. It is also a uterine tonic and helps infertility. ¦ Circulation Chinese angelica is a "warming" herb, improving the circulation to the abdomen, and to the hands and feet. It strengthens the digestion and is also useful in the treatment of abscesses and boils. self-help uses ¦ Aiding conception, p. 316. * Menstrual problems, p. 315. Chinese angelica has attractive dusters of white flowers in summer.

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These may include warm tonic herbs, such as astragalus root, but may also include bupleurum and cimici-fuga, which, while having a cool energy, are used to raise the qi. Mint is also used because it has the ability to direct the qi upward to the mind and relieve depression. Dispersing: Herbs with a dispersing energy have diaphoretic (perspiration-inducing) properties and are used for the initial stages of colds, influenza, fevers, and eruptive skin diseases. Examples of herbs with this property are numerous and include ephedra (Ma huang), cinnamon twigs, mint, and schizonepeta.

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Just as one would use a mild action to treat chronic ailments because the energy is weak, one must generally avoid diluting the herbal formulas for acute diseases with many mild tonic herbs. In the acute disease, the individual is relatively strong and can best be helped to throw off the sickness by stimulating the natural defenses directly. A tonic may later be used to recover the full vitality of the body, which has been drained in the process of healing.

An alcoholic preparation called "shou wu chic" is sold in Chinese herb stores and contains shou wu and other tonic herbs useful for tonifying the liver and kidney. Jujube date (DA T'SAO) Ziziphus jujuba Part Used: Whole date Energy and Taste: Neutral energy, sour taste Systems Affected: Spleen-pancreas, nerves, stomach Properties: Nutritive, Digestive, Nervine, Tonic Dose: 5-10 grams Notes: The Chinese jujube date is commonly used in a wide variety of herbal formulas. It is found in dried form in most Oriental markets.

The tonic herbs have several uses, including direct treatment of acute ailments, building strength in the recovery process, balancing the body's energy and preventing disease from occurring. These herbs are combined to make tonic soups providing nourishment and gentle stimulation to the organs. The Chinese herbs are becoming more readily available in the West, and many of the ones described here can be purchased in herb stores around the United States. To make the herbal soup, combine six to seven grams (about one-quarter ounce) of each of the desired herbs in a large nonmetallic pot.

I consider dandelion root a specific for hypoglycemia, but it may need to be combined with other tonic herbs such as ginseng and a little ginger for maximum benefit. A cup of dandelion root tea is taken three times daily along with the recommended balanced diet. Similarly, it can be used to remedy recent onset of diabetes, especially when combined wiht huckleberry leaf in tea. Dandelion root helps decrease high blood pressure, thus aiding the action of the heart. It can also be helpful in treating anemia by supplying necessary nutritive minerals.

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For persons needing greater tonification, following treatments such as DIET A, Suma and the mushrooms in the above formula are added to more tonic herbs, all in equal parts: • Suma root • dried Ling Zhi (Reishi) or Shiitake mushrooms • Job's-tears seeds • American Ginseng root • Astragalus root Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus et al.\ Mandarin: huang qi) builds energy, strengthens digestion and resistance to disease, and is useful in wasting conditions.

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This and other female tonic herbs should be taken for at least three months to show their effects. Blessed thistle—1 part Cramp bark—1 part False unicorn root—1 part Squawvine—1 part Uva ursi—1 part Goldenseal—3 parts Ginger root—1 part (stimulant) Angelica or dong quai—1 part (antispasmodic) Mix the powdered herbs and place in "00" capsules, or make a tincture using four ounces of herbs per pint of alcohol. Use with a half cup of raspberry leaf tea.

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A Tonic for the Ticker In herbal parlance, hawthorn is known as a tonic. tonic herbs typically strengthen and normalize function and, depending on the problem, they have different actions in the body. In the case of congestive heart failure, hawthorn helps make the heart muscle contract more forcefully and pump more blood. If your heart beats erratically or too fast but medication is not yet required, hawthorn can help restore your heartbeat to normal and might keep the condition from getting worse.

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If the body is weak, Chinese doctors also recommend nourishing its intrinsic energy (qi) with chicken soup combined with herbs, or taking tonic herbs like astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus). In fact, there are many excellent traditional Chinese remedies for cold symptoms. One of the most widely used is gan mao ling. It comes in tablets, tea, and instant granules (called ganmao tuire chongji or gan mao char). These remedies can be easily obtained in any Chinese herb store, from most acupuncturists' offices, or by mail from one of the resources listed in appendix E.

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These are usually the tonic herbs that help every part of the body. The bitter tasting herbs are usually the medicinal herbs. These are used in times of illness or to correct certain problems. Learn about these herbs so you will have confidence in using them. HOW HERBS WORK IN YOUR BODY Why Herbs? Herbs have these functions in the body; they: 1. Cleanse the body. 2. Regulate the system (body glands and functions). 1 3. Are nutritional. 4. Raise the energy level of the body. 5. Stimulate the body's immune system. 1.

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WildPower Tea (contains natural kidney tonic herbs, wild strawberry leaves and wild borage flowers); drink two cups daily. • oil of oregano — take 5 to 10 drops twice daily in juice or water. Also, take 2 or 3 drops under the tongue twice daily. • magnesium chelate — take 600 to 800 mg daily. • B complex — take 50 mg twice daily. • Flavin-C (source of crude vitamin C combined with bioflavonoids for strengthening blood and lymph vessels to prevent leaking of fluids) — take 6 or more capsules daily.

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