Arthritis

Vetiver or vetivert is a tall, tufted perennial scented grass. It is native to Sri Lanka, Indonesia and southern India. It is cultivated all over the world for its volatile oil, which is mainly used in aromatherapy. The essential oil is extracted from the roots and rootlets, and often known as the ‘oil of tranquillity’. It is related to lemongrass and citronella.

Medicinal Properties of Vetiver

The oil contains vetiverol, vitivone and various terpenes including vetivenes. Used topically in aromatherapy it has many actions, including antiseptic, antispasmodic, depurative (purifying agent) rubefacient, sedative, circulatory stimulant, tonic and vermifuge (helps to expel worms).

Vetiver Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Acne, Anxiety, Arthritis, Depression, Insomnia, Lactation, Pain, Rheumatism, Skin, Stress, Worms, Wound

Stinging nettle or Urtica, which comes from the Latin uro, meaning “I burn” is indicative of the painful stings caused by the tiny hairs on the nettle leaves.

Ironically the leaves are also the main medicinal parts of the plant.

The nettle root is also sometimes used by herbalists.

Nettle grows everywhere in the northern hemisphere and has been used for centuries.

Medicinal Properties of Nettle

Nettle leaf is nutritive as it contains high levels of chloropyll and minerals such as Iron, Calcium and silica.

Nettle also provides flavonoids, vitamin C, lectins and polysaccharides.

Nettle has anti-inflammatory, diuretic and haemostatic properties.

Nettle leaves are highly valued in country medicine for their tonic and blood purifying powers.

Tags: Anaemia, Arthritis, Fever, Gout, Haemorrhage, Hayfever, Osteoporosis, Pain, Rash, Rheumatic, Skin, Water Retention

Also known as toothache tree, it is native to Canada and America. northern prickly ash is Z. americanum and southern prickly ash is Z. clava-herculis. In both cases the bark is used in herbal medicine and berries are also of some use. Another species growing in Asia is called Chinese prickly ash, Z. bungeanum.

Medicinal Properties of Prickly Ash

The bark contains alkaloids, in particular chlerythrine, which is antimicrobial. It also consists of the cinnamamide – herclavin, and some volatile oils, tannins and resins. Northern prickly ash contains coumarins, and southern prickly ash contains the lignan, asarinin and the amides, herculin and neoherculin, which are thought to be anaesthetic in action. The herb is anti-rheumatic, analgesic, circulatory, and digestive stimulant, diaphoretic (induces swelling), carminative (wind relieving), antipyretic (reduces fever) and antidiarrhoeal. Berries are richer in the volatile oil.

Tags: Arthritis, Chilblains, Circulation, Colitis, Diarrhoea, Digestion, Fever, Flu, Indigestion, Lactation, Lice, Parasites, Rheumatic, Rheumatism, Sore, Stomach, Throat, Toothache, Ulcers, Varicose Veins

There are three types of poplar tree. White poplar (P. alba), Black poplar (P. nigra) and American aspen (P. tremuloides), the latter being found in North America. In all cases the bark is used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Poplar

The bark contains the phenolic glycosides, salicin and populin (salicin benzoate), which have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It also contains tannins which give diuretic and astringent action. It is also a stimulant herb.

Poplar Herbal Remedies

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

Anorexia
Arthritis
Cystitis
Debility
Diarrhoea
Digestive and liver problems
Rheumatism

Other Poplar Information

The powdered bark can be used to make a herbal tea, it is though often found in licensed herbal products aimed at treating arthritis and rheumatism.

Tags: Anorexia, Arthritis, Cystitis, Diarrhoea, Lactation, Lice, Liver, Rheumatism

Is common wild plant in Britain, throughout Europe and parts of Asia. It is also found in North America. The flowers, leaves and finer stems are used in herbal medicine. It is often called the herbalists ‘bicarbonate of soda’ due to its antacid action.

Medicinal Properties of Meadowsweet

This herb contains a variety of compounds including flavanol glycosides (quercitin in particular), phenolic glycosides, 0.2% volatile oil and polyphenols (tannins). The volatile oil contains a range of salicylates which are broken down in the body to form salicylic acid, a compound very similar to the pain killer – aspirin. It has mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antacid, diuretic, astringent and stomich (relieves stomach pain) benefits.

Tags: Arthritis, Cold, Cystitis, Digestion, Dyspepsia, Flatulence, Flu, Gastritis, Heart, Heartburn, Indigestion, Influenza, Pain, Rheumatism, Stomach, Ulcers, Water Retention

Liquorice grows in southern Europe and south-western Asia and is a herb used frequently in Chinese medicine. The roots of three to four years old Liquorice plants are used medicinally and in the manufacture of confectionery due to its flavour and natural sweetness. The Liquorice plant is commercially cultivated in many places and was introduced to England by monks during the 16th century.

Medicinal Properties of Liquorice

Liquorice is one of the most biologically active herbs known.

It contains many compounds, but of prime importance are glycyrrhizin, flavonoids, coumarins and sterols.

Glycyrrhizin has anti-inflammatory actions and supports adrenal gland function.

The flavonoids have Antioxidant activity and have potent healing properties.

Tags: Arthritis, Constipation, Cystitis, Diarrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea, Fibroids, Flu, Gallstones, Gastritis, Hepatitis, Liver, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Rheumatic, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Stomach, Ulcers

This is an invasive plant native to Britain, Russia and middle eastern Europe. The leaves, roots and stalks of this weed are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Knotgrass

It contains compounds such as tannins, namely catechin and gallic acid, which have potent astringent and haemostatic (slows bleeding) properties. It also contains silicic acid which is a source of the mineral silicia, which helps support the immune system in cleansing the body of toxins and improves the elasticity and strength of connective tissue. It also contains flavanoids such as quercetin, which is anti-inflammatory as well as mucilage and polyphenolic acids.

Knotgrass Herbal Remedies

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

Tags: Arthritis, Bleeding, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Diarrhoea, Gout, Immune System, Lactation, Nose Bleeds, Periods, Piles

This is probably a native to eastern Europe and is thought to be cultivated from the Hungarian plant, Cochlearia macrocarpa. It is now common throughout Russia, Europe and Scandanavia and is cultivated all over the world. The root is used as medicine and a food, particularly as a condiment for roast beef (horseradish sauce).

Medicinal Properties of Horseradish

This herb consists of a variety of compounds and nutrients including vitamin C, B vitamins, asparagines, resin and volatile oils which contain sinigrin, gluconasturtin and other pungent glucosinolates 9also found in mustard). The potent volatile oil is diuretic, antibiotic, a urinary antiseptic, carminative (wind relieving) diaphoretic and a stimulant to the liver, spleen, pancreas, digestion and circulatory system. Topically it has a counter-irritant action similar to cayenne pepper.

Tags: Arthritis, Catarrh, Chilblains, Circulation, Cold, Cough, Cystitis, Digestion, Fever, Flu, Influenza, Kidney, Liver, Pain, Parasites, Sinus, Sore, Throat, Urinary, Vomiting, Water Retention, Worms

This is a blue gum and is a very large evergreen tree that originates from Australia and Tasmania, but is now grown world-wide and mainly used for its essential oil. The leaves contain the oil and this is used in herbal medicine as well as being the main food that koala bears eat. There are over 700 species of eucalyptus of which 500 produce a type of essential oil.

Medicinal Properties of Eucalyptus

The Eucalyptus leaves contain around 70% to 85% of a volatile oil known as eucalyptol (cineol), as well as various flavanoid compounds. It is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antiviral, expectorant, antispasmodic and acts powerfully on the mucous membranes of the nose reducing congestion. It is also said to reduce fever and keep insects away.

Tags: Arthritis, Asthma, Bleeding, Bronchitis, Catarrh, Cold, Cough, Diarrhoea, Fever, Headaches, Infections, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Lumbago, Nausea, Pain, Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sinus, Sore, Tension, Throat, Ulcers, Vomiting

White Willow is a tree grows in most parts of Europe and Britain and is also found in North America. The bark has medicinal use in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of White Willow

In 1838 chemists identified salicylic acid in the bark of white Willow as the primary active compound which has anti-inflammatory and pain relieving action. Scientists have copied this compound and produced a synthetic form, acetylsalicylic acid – better known as the drug aspirin.

White Willow contains other flavonoids, tannins and phenolic glycosides which are said to prolong the analgesic action of salicyclic acid.

White Willow Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend white Willow for the following disorders:

Tags: Arthritis, Headaches, Lumbago, Neuralgia, Pain, Rheumatism, Sciatica, Stomach, Ulcers

Wild Yam is found in Mexico, United States and Asia where it is eaten as a food. The root is used is used to manufacture oestrogens, progesterone drugs and steroids in orthodox medicine and is also the part used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Wild Yam

Wild Yam contains steroidal saponins, mainly diosgenin and acts as a smooth muscle relaxant and has antispasmodic properties. Wild Yam does not contain progesterone as once suggested, but it does have a mild balancing action on female hormone health.

Wild Yam Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend wild yam for the following disorder:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Tags: Arthritis, Cholesterol, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Muscle, Pain, Rheumatism

Turmeric is a member of the Ginger family and is native to India and China. It is cultivated for the medicinal value of its root, which is commonly used as a flavouring and yellow colourant in Chinese and other Far Eastern cooking, particularly curries.

Medicinal Properties of

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which has much medicinal activity. It is a powerful Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and has a significant protective effect on the liver. This herb also reduces stickiness of blood platelets and improves circulation.

Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Turmeric for the following disorders:

Gout
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Systemic Lupus Erythematosis

Tags: Arthritis, Circulation, Gallstones, Gout, Liver, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis