Perspectives on care: Herbal remedies

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Facilitator:
Time: 10 mins; 1455-1505
Actual time:
Learning Objectives:
Materials: Herbal box

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We talk about non-pharmaceutical interventions a little bit in this training, but do not go in depth. Before we go any further, we want to take a moment to orient you to some basics of the herbal approach and what dosage forms or herbs we might use. We will cover a few basic remedies when we discuss the injuries where they may be of assistance. There is a lot more to learn.¹

Lightning tour of history, philosophy, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, interactions, allergies

Non-pharmaceutical remedies can be used to treat a symptom or an injury

• Menthol kills pain, so does clove bud oil (eugenol).

• Horseradish and wasabi clear out the sinuses.

• Fresh-squeezed lemon drops blood pressure; so does garlic.

• Peppermint spirits settles stomach; candied ginger usually does.

• Cayenne stops bleeding and (in shoes) keeps peripheral capillaries from closing up in cold (or Reynaud's phenomenon).

They can also be used to improve the health of an entire system

For example, helping the respiratory system for someone with asthma or frequent lung infections:

• Onion cough syrup: sulfur is excreted through the lungs.

• Cayenne fruit: stimulates and strengthens vasculature.

• Eulethro root with lavender flower: normalizes stress reaction in endocrine system.

• Milk thistle seed: helps liver produce glutathione (powerful detox/antiox) stress take-down/hep C support.

Tend to have less med interactions than foods

Herbal doses are lower than food servings. Most interactions have to do with a med clearing your system faster or slower (internal St. John's wort, goldenseal, grapefruit juice, etc.). Most listed interactions are hypothetical.

Allergies and sensitivities may be present

Allergy to sulfa drugs = sensitivity to onions; pollen allergies may present with asteraceae flowers like arnica.

Overt toxicity is rare

Overt toxicity is rare with minimally processed plant remedies, because toxic principles are usually poorly absorbed without heavy processing (castor bean vs. ricin).

Forms

Herbs

Parts of the plant or tree, fresh or dried, used without further processing

• Ginger -- Zingiber officinale: Chew the dried root, or eat crystallized ginger. Good for upset stomach, very warming, good for cold weather events.

• Lavender -- Lavendula angustifolia and other species: Good to sniff or rub on skin (not to eat). Calming, centering, can help with headaches. Beware of chemical sensitivities: some people are very averse to the smell.

• Licorice root -- Glycyrrhiza glabra: Chewing a piece of root soothes sore throat and helps with breathing difficulty. Sweet tasting, good for children.

• Oats -- Avena sativa: Cooked oatmeal is nourishing convalescence food after illness or prolonged stress. Soak oatmeal in warm water (using cheese cloth, stockings) for a nourishing foot soak for tired feet.² Good for children.

• Plantain leaf -- Plantago major: Helpful in drawing out venom, dirt and other contaminants in a wound. Make a poultice, by cutting or chewing fresh leaves, and apply directly to wound.

• Slippery Elm bark -- Ulmus fulva and Ulmus rubra: Bark chips, lozenges or cough drops, good for soothing sore throats. Elm trees are an at-risk tree (because of Dutch Elm disease), so only use Slippery Elm from a farm or from fallen branches (not gathered from living trees in the wild, called wildcrafted).

Water Extract

Using hot or cold water to extract chemical/medicinal properties.

• Infusion (tea): For leaves and flowers, pour boiling water over herb, cover, and let steep for 15 minutes.

• Decoction (like broth): For roots and barks, boil in covered pot in water for 15 minutes.

• Cold infusion: some leaves and barks extract better when steeped overnight in cold water.

Many herbs can be used in water extracts, including lemon balm, licorice root, dandelion root, echinacea, and mullein. In addition:

• Peppermint -- Mentha piperita: Increases energy and alertness, stimulates digestion, decreases nausea and soothes stomach cramps.

• Nettle -- Urtica dioica: Helps remove toxins from the body by supporting both the liver and the kidneys, very rich in vitamins and minerals, good for allergies and hay fever.

Liquid Extracts

Herbs left soaking in liquid that extracts medicinal properties.

Most frequently used liquids

• Alcohol tincture (usually 90 proof, but ranges from 50 to 190 proof, depending on the properties of the herb): brandy, vodka, gin, grain alcohol. Proof = 2 x %, so 90 proof equals 45% alcohol. When giving alcohol-based tinctures, be aware of patient's alcohol sensitivities.

• Syrup or glycerin. Glycerin made from vegetables, sweet tasting, good for kids and anyone with alcohol sensitivities. Some syrups and glycerites are preserved teas (water extracts), while some are direct extracts.

• Apple cider vinegar.

Liquid extracts are administered as drops in the mouth (sometimes in a glass of water or water bottle), but sometimes also used directly on the skin (as indicated below).

• Dose depends on the particular herb and its preparation. Read the bottle for specifics, or consult with someone who has herbal training

• Better to start with a small dose (a few drops, 1/2 dropperful), then give more if needed.

Commonly used tinctures

Some tinctures may include more than one of these ingredients, for example, a lemon balm and oats combination.

• Lemon Balm -- Melissa officinalis: Calming, good for anxiety and nerves, also good for stomach ache and fighting viral infections. Safe for children.

• Skullcap -- Scutellaria lateriflora: Calming, good for anxiety and nerves, especially good for "changing gears" -- getting someone from one state to another (life transitions, resolving emotional trauma, etc).

• Milky Oats -- Avena sativa (made from the milky seed): Good for intense stress, also excellent general support for the nervous system.

• Dandelion root -- Taraxacum officinale: Helps the liver clear toxins from the body, also good for stomach aches.

• Milk Thistle seed -- Silybum marianum: Helps the liver clear toxins from the body, protects the liver from damage, and helps liver rebuild after injury.

• Mullein leaves -- Verbascum thapsus: Good for asthma, painful coughs and other breathing problems, helps lungs rebuild after an injury.

Infused Oils and Salves

Herbs left soaking in oil that extracts the medicinal properties.

• Most commonly used base oils: olive oil, vegetable oil.

• Applied to skin directly, or prepared as a salve, which is a combination of an infused oil and wax.

• Many salves contain beeswax. Some people do not use any animal products. Candelilla wax is a vegan alternative.

Commonly used oils (applied directly as the infused oil, or in a salve):

• Arnica -- Arnica montana: Good for sprains, strains, bruises, sore muscles and joints (first 24 hours). Do not put on open skin.

• Calendula -- Calendula officinalis: Wound and burn healing.

• St. John's Wort -- Hypericum perforatum (also Hypericum): Applied topically, good for burns, nerve injury (handcuff compression injury), general wound/bruise/sprain healing (after 24 hours). Don't give St J's by mouth:³ using the tincture by mouth is not "do no harm"; there are too many additional considerations you must keep in mind to teach here.

• Comfrey -- Symphytum officinale: Good for wound healing. ONLY for shallow cuts and scrapes: it can stimulate such speedy wound healing that the skin closes over the top of the wound, trapping germs and dirt inside.

Wrap-Up

Don't experiment on patients. Don't use a remedy you don't thoroughly understand. Always take a SAMPLE history before offering herbal remedies and check in frequently to see how the person tolerates them.