Amenorrhoea

This evergreen conifer is native to the northern hemisphere growing mainly in Scandinavia, Siberia, Canada, northern Europe and northern Asia. The berries are used to make the alcoholic spirit – Gin.

Juniper is of course also used in herbal medicine, especially for urinary problems.

Medicinal Properties of Juniper

Juniper contain volatile oil, tannins, resin, grape sugar, diterpene acids and vitamin C. The main active is the volatile oil – terpinol, which acts as a diuretic on the kidneys and a urinary antiseptic. It is also a digestive tonic, emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation), carminative (wind relieving) and external parasitic.

Juniper Herbal Remedies

Historically Juniper has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Cystitis, Digestion, Flatulence, Gout, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Kidney, Periods, Rheumatism, Urinary, Water Retention

Borage or Starflower is a plant native to Europe and North Africa, but is now found in Canada and the USA. Used by the Romans and Greeks as a heart tonic and a supplier of courage. Borage has distinctive blue star-shaped flowers and in herbal medicine the seeds, leaves and flowers are used. The seeds contain the highest amount of oil.

Action of Borage

Borage is mainly used today for its oil, which is the richest source of the omega 6 essential fatty acid, gamma linolenic acid (GLA), containing between 19-26% GLA. This is double the amount found in Evening Primrose Oil (typically 10% GLA). Borage oil therefore, can be useful for many of the conditions that Evening Primrose Oil is used for. GLA is needed in the body for the production of hormone liked chemicals called prostaglandins E1, (PGE1) which control numerous mechanisms such as inflammation, blood pressure, cholesterol regulation and hormone regulation to name a few.

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Arthritis, Cholesterol, Cough, Depression, Dysmenorrhoea, Eczema, Epilepsy, Fever, Haemorrhoids, Headaches, Heart, Infertility, Inflammation, Lactation, Liver, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Known also as squaw root, it is a native of North America and is a flowering plant used for centuries by the women of Indian tribes to help with hormonal problems. Black cohosh is also used for these types of situations, but is a completely different species. The flowers were often used by American Indians, but the root and rhizomes of the herb are more commonly used in herbal medicine.

Action of Blue cohosh

The herb contains several alkaloids which may have various actions, however a compound called caulosaponin is thought to stimulate contractions of the uterus. It is said to be anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, ant-rheumatic a uterine tonic and emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation).

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Headaches, High Blood Pressure, Inflammation, Menstrual, Nausea, Pain, Periods, Rheumatic, Rheumatism, Vaginal

Agnus castus is a tree native to central Asia and the Mediterranean region, it is the dried ripe berries that are used in herbal medicine.

Action of Agnus Castus

Agnus castus – contains non-hormone compounds which act on the pituitary gland are and useful for female hormone health. It essentially raises progesterone levels and lowers oestrogen levels which are commonly out of balance.

Agnus Castus Uses

Our experts recommend agnus castus for the following disorders:

| Amenorrhoea
| Dysmenorrhoea
| Fibroids
| Infertility (female)
| Polycystic ovary syndrome
| Pre-menstrual syndrome

Tags: Acne, Amenorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Fibroids, Infertility, Lactation, Menstrual, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Yarrow, milfoil or nosebleed is a plant native to Europe and Asia. It is now naturalised in North America and there are several hybrids of yarrow. A. millefolium is the plant most known and has been used since the times of the ancient Chinese. It was once referred to as Englishman’s quinine. In herbal medicine the flowering tops are freshly collected and used.

Medicinal Properties of Yarrow

It contains a wide variety of compounds including volatile oil, sesquiterpene lactones, flavanoids, alkaloids, polyacetylenes, triterpenes, sterols, phenolic acids, coumarins and 3% to 4% tannins. The volatile oil contains chemicals called chamazeulines which are thought to be anti-inflammatory. The flavanoids, namely apigenin, appear to be antispasmodic in action. The alkaloids and sesquiterpene lactones give the herb digestive bitter properties, and the haemostatic effect (stops bleeding) is attributed to the alkaloid, achilleine, though the tannins may also be responsible. It is diaphoretic (reduces sweating), hypotensive, analgesic and an emmenagogue (stimulates menstruation).

Tags: Amenorrhoea, Appetite, Bleeding, Cold, Colic, Colitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Fever, Flu, Heart, Heartburn, High Blood Pressure, Indigestion, Inflammation, Influenza, Lactation, PMS, Rash, Skin, Ulcers, Vaginal, Varicose Veins, Wound