Rheumatic

Arnica is a flowering plant found widely in Europe and Britain. It is no longer readily available in the UK for internal use, as a herbal medicine, but it is often used in various topical applications. For internal use the homoeopathic remedy Arnica is preferred and has many important uses. The dried flowers and leaves have medicinal action, although the flowers are most often used to make herbal and homoeopathic preparations.

Action of Arnica

This plant contains a variety of compounds which demonstrate soothing, anti-inflammatory, astringent and healing properties.

Arnica Uses

Historically as an external preparation Arnica has been used to treat a number of conditions including:

Tags: Bruising, Heart, Lumbago, Muscle, Neuralgia, Pain, Rheumatic, Sciatica, Skin, Ulcers

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

Parsley is a herb commonly known for its culinary use. Used by the Greek physician, Galen for disorders of the womb and bladder. Parsley tea was also used in the trenches of World War I for soldiers suffering kidney complications following dysentery. The root, leaves and seeds have medicinal properties in herbal medicine, but today the leaves are commonly used.

Medicinal Properties of Parsley

Parsley contains volatile oils, apiole and myristin as well as coumarins and flavonoids, which account for its diuretic, carminative, spasmolytic and uterine tonic action. It is also a nutritive herb and is a rich source of vitamins A, C, E, Folic Acid, Bioflavanoids, Calcium, Potassium, Silicon and iron.

Parsley Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Parsley for:

Tags: Anaemia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cystitis, Digestion, Dyspepsia, Flu, Gastritis, Gout, Headaches, Kidney, Rheumatic, Urethritis, Water Retention

Mate or yerba mate tea is the national drink of Paraguay and Brazil. The leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Mate

The leaves contain less tannins than ordinary black tea, but still has good levels of caffeine, which is a stimulant to the brain and nervous system. It is also a general tonic, anti-rheumatic, mildly antispasmodic, diuretic and helps to rid the body of uric acid.

Mate Herbal Remedies

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

Exhaustion from stress
Gout
Headache -nervous
Lack of energy
Obesity
Rheumatism

Tags: Energy, Gout, Lactation, Nervous, Rheumatic, Rheumatism, Stress, Weight Loss

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 a strongly aromatic annual herb that grows about a metre in height. It is native to Europe and Western Asia, but is now naturalised in North America and cultivated all around the world. The Persians grew this herb over 3,000 years ago and used it to add fragrance to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Both seed and leaf are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Coriander

The herb contains a variety of compounds including volatile oil, sterols and phenolic acids. It is a stimulant, carminative (wind relieving) and warming.

Coriander Herbal Remedies

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

Aerophagy (constant desire to swallow air)
Colic
Flatulence
Gastroenteritis
Hypoglycaemia
Measles
Nausea
Piles
Poor digestion
Toothache

Tags: Colic, Digestion, Flatulence, Gastroenteritis, Hypoglycaemia, Nausea, Pain, Piles, Rheumatic, Toothache

Sarsaparilla is the name given to several different species of smilax. These include S. aristolochiaefolia (Vera Cruz, Mexico or Grey Sarsaparilla), S. febrifuga (Ecuador or Guayaquil Sarsaparilla), S. ornata (Jamaica, Costa Rica or Red Sarsaparilla), S. regelli (Honduras or Brown Sarsaparilla). The dried root is used in herbal medicine and is also sometimes used to flavour root beer.

Medicinal Properties of Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla contains 1-3% steroidal saponins, namely smilagenin and sarsasapogenin, which appear to have some hormone-like properties. Sarsaparilla also contains phytosterols such beta-sitosterol which are thought give this herb its anti-inflammatory action. This herb is also anti-rheumatic, protective to the liver and a diuretic, as it increases the elimination of chlorides and uric acid from the body. In addition Sarsaparilla also improves the appetite and digestion.

Tags: Acne, Appetite, Arthritis, Detox, Digestion, Eczema, Kidney, Lactation, Liver, Psoriasis, Rheumatic, Rheumatism, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Stomach

Ginger is one of the greatest of all natural medicines, used by Chinese doctors since 1,000 BC and popular with European herbalists from the Middle Ages. It is a perennial plant that grows throughout China and the rest of Asia, and in the tropics and South America. The root is used both as a spice in food and in medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Ginger

Ginger contains extremely powerful, active volatile oils, which provide both its distinctive taste and smell as well as medicinal benefits. Zingiberene, zingerone, boreal, bisabolene, Gingerols and shogaols are the most important compounds and are responsible for anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, pain relieving, anti-nausea and anti-vomiting effects. Ginger is also warming and improves circulation and acts as a general tonic to the digestive system.

Tags: Appetite, Circulation, Flu, Heart, Heartburn, Hernia, Inflammation, Morning Sickness, Nausea, Pain, Rheumatic, Stomach, Ulcers, Vomiting

Feverfew is an attractive member of the chrysanthemum family and was native to parts of southern Europe. Today it is spread all over Europe, the UK and North America. It has masses of white and yellow flowers which resemble daisies, however it is the leaves that are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Feverfew

Feverfew contains mainly a compound called parthenolide, which has anti-inflammatory and blood thinning properties as well as being able to reduce serotonin production in the brain. It is also anti-spasmodic and anti-rheumatic.

Feverfew Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend Feverfew for the following disorders:

Encephalitis
Headaches
Meningitis
Migraine
Scarlet Fever
Tension and Chronic Headaches

Tags: Arthritis, Fever, Headaches, Meningitis, Migraine, Pain, Rheumatic, Tension, Ulcers

Comfrey is native to Europe and western Asia. It is often called boneset or knitbone because of its traditional use, of helping to mend broken bones. The root and leaves are used in herbal medicine.

Medicinal Properties of Comfrey

Comfrey contains many compounds including allantoin, mucilage and pyrrolizidine alkaloids. It has anti-inflammatory, soothing and potent healing properties.

Comfrey Herbal Remedies

Our herbalists recommend topical Comfrey for the following disorders

Bruising
Charcot’s joints
Eczema and Dermatitis
Osteochondritis
Osteoarthritis

Other Comfrey Information

Herbalists have used Comfrey for a variety of disorders including: ulcers, sprains, cuts, broken bones and rheumatic conditions. It is available in topical preparations as ointment, cream or as an oil for massaging into larger areas.

Tags: Arthritis, Bruising, Eczema, Liver, Osteoarthritis, Osteochondritis, Rheumatic, Ulcers

Celery is a vegetable commonly used in salads and casseroles. It is low in calories and is an ideal snack for those who are weight conscious. Celery seeds have been used in Europe for centuries to help a variety of disorders.

Medicinal Properties of Celery seed

Celery seeds contain many compounds including: volatile oils, apiol, coumarins, flavonoids, and the minerals Iron, phosphorus, Potassium, sodium. Celery seed demonstrates mild diuretic and anti-spasmodic properties.

Celery is also thought to alkalise the blood and help with the elimination of uric acid and other toxic wastes through the kidneys, and is said to be an anti-rheumatic. It may also act as a digestive tonic, urinary antiseptic, hypotensive and a galactologue.

Tags: Acne, Arthritis, Gout, Infections, Kidney, Lactation, Psoriasis, Rheumatic, Skin, Urinary