Diabetes

Reishi or Ling chih/zhi is a type of mushroom that is native to the coastal provinces of China and has been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. The red variety is most commonly cultivated for this purpose, but there are 5 other colours that exist. The mushroom head is used in herbalism and is often used in combination with another mushroom called shiitake..

Medicinal Properties of Reishi

It contains sterols, coumarin, mannitol, glucans (polysaccharides) and triterpenoids called ganoderic acids. Ganoderic acids are thought to reduce the stickiness of blood platelets and have lowering action on both LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure. It also contains germanium, which helps to oxygenate cells. It is said to have antiviral, anti-tumour, antibacterial, immuno-stimulant, antihistamine, adaptogenic, expectorant and tonic-like actions.

Tags: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Cancer, Cholesterol, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Diabetes, Energy, Hepatitis, High Blood Pressure, HIV, Immune System, Infections, Lactation, Stomach, Stress, Throat

It comes from the olive tree, is evergreen and originates from the Mediterranean. It is best known for its green or black fruits (olives), these can be eaten or pressed to yield olive oil. The oil is used widely in cooking and has some medicinal uses. It is thought to be one of the major health preserving parts of the Mediterranean diet, although the leaves have other properties which are important in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Olive leaf

Olive leaf contains oleuropein and various flavanoids including rutin, apigenin and luteolin. Oleuropein appears to be the active that accounts for the leafs ability to lower blood pressure and dilate blood vessels. It also has antioxidant properties and may protect against hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) caused by oxidation of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. It is thought to be diuretic, astringent, febrifuge (reduces fever) hypoglycaemic, mildly antispasmodic, antibacterial, vulnerary (wound healing) and a liver tonic.

Tags: Boils, Cholesterol, Circulation, Cystitis, Diabetes, Fever, Gallstones, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Infections, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Stomach, Wound

This is one of the oldest known medicinal plants and its use dates back to the ancient Egyptians. It originates from south east Europe and western Asia, but grows in many hot climates of the world. It is a popular food but the seeds are used in herbal medicine (particularly for diabetes and high cholesterol).

Medicinal Properties of Fenugreek

The seeds of this plant contain a variety of compounds including flavanoids, steroidal saponins, alkaloids and volatile oil, as well as protein and soluble fibre. The steroidal saponins have regulating effects on cholesterol levels, whilst the soluble fibre can help to lower blood sugar levels. It is soothing, anti-inflammatory, a galactagogue (stimulates breast milk flow), and an expectorant and nutritive herb.

Tags: Appetite, Bronchitis, Cholesterol, Cold, Colitis, Constipation, Cough, Crohn’s Disease, Diabetes, Diarrhoea, Impotence, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Kidney, Lactation, Nausea, Skin, Sore, Stomach, Throat, Ulcers

Cloves are dried buds from the evergreen tree Syzygium aromaticum / Eugenia caryophyllus. It is native to Indonesia and cultivated world-wide, especially in the Philippines, the Molucca Islands and Madagascar.

It is a well-known remedy for toothache.

Medicinal Properties of Cloves

The herb contains a heavy volatile oil that consists of camphor resin, flavanoids, sterols and eugenol. They have anaesthetic, carminative (wind relieving), warming, powerful antiseptic, mild antispasmodic, anti-histamine and anti-neuralgic properties.

Cloves Herbal Remedies

Historically Cloves have been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Asthma
Bronchitis
Diarrhoea
Dyspepsia
Pleurisy and lung disorders (external use)
Toothache
Worms and intestinal parasites

Tags: Asthma, Bronchitis, Dental, Diabetes, Diarrhoea, Dyspepsia, Parasites, Toothache, Worms

NOTE: Yohimbe herbal supplements are not legally available for over the counter sale in the UK and Ireland, but they may be prescribed by a qualified medical herbalist.The yohimbe tree is a tall evergreen that is native to Africa, mainly growing in the forests of south-western Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon and the Congo. The bark is used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Yohimbe

Yohimbe contains an alkaloid called yohimbine, which has various properties:

Firstly, it blocks alpha-2 adrenergic receptors in the nervous system, which increases levels of catecholamines, such as adrenaline (epinephrine). This directly stimulates, blood flow and metabolic rate, which mobilises fats out of their storage areas so they can be burned for fuel.

Tags: Anxiety, Circulation, Cough, Depression, Diabetes, Energy, Fever, Flu, Heart, Impotence, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Nausea, Nervous, Panic, Sleep, Stress, Ulcers

Psyllium, isphagula or plantago is a plant that is both native and cultivated in Iran and India. The seeds and seed husks are used medicinally.

Medicinal Properties of Psyllium

Psyllium seeds are high in both insoluble and soluble fibre (mucilage). They contain between 10-30% mucilage. These fibres have a bulking and gel-forming action in the bowel when water is also present, which encourages peristalsis and bowel emptying, making it a gentle but effective laxative. These fibres can also absorb and carry excess dietary fat and cholesterol out of the bowel.

Psyllium Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Psyllium/ ispaghula for the following disorders:

Constipation
High Cholesterol

Tags: Cholesterol, Colitis, Constipation, Diabetes, Diarrhoea, Diverticulitis, Haemorrhoids, Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Gymnema is sometimes called gurmur or gurmurbooti in Hindi, meaning sugar destroyer, which is relevant as the leaves when chewed reduce the ability to taste sweet foods. The plant is native to India where it grows in the tropical rainforests, and it is the leaves that are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Gymnema

The leaves of Gymnema contain gymnemic acid and gurmarin, which do affect the ability to taste sweet foods, however the leaves also have the ability to lower blood sugar levels. It is thought to do this in two ways. Firstly by regenerating insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas, which encourages insulin production and secondly by improving glucose uptake into the cells of the body. Constituents in Gymnema leaves also demonstrate cholesterol-lowering properties.

Tags: Cholesterol, Diabetes, Flu, Lactation

Citrus aurantium is also known as bitter orange, green orange or sour orange. In traditional Chinese Medicine it is known as zhi shi and in Aromatherapy the essential oil is called neroli. The fruit of Citrus aurantium contains the active compounds used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Bitter orange

Citrus aurantium contains an alkaloid called synephrine, which is chemically very similar to caffeine and the ephedrine and pseudo-ephedrine found in many OTC cold/allergy medications. In the US, the herb ephedra (Ma Huang) is available which also contains ephedrine.

Synephrine is a stimulant, it is thought to have similar effects to caffeine and ephedrine in terms of providing an energy boost, suppressing appetite and increasing metabolic rate and caloric expenditure. Citrus aurantium also contains tyramine and octopamine. Octopamine is thought to be involved in appetite control.

Tags: Anxiety, Appetite, Cold, Depression, Diabetes, Energy, Flu, Heart, High Blood Pressure, Nervous, PMS, Skin, Sleep, Weight Loss