HOMEHerb List
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ELDER FLOWER
Sambucus nigra
Best for the early stages of cold and flu
ELECAMPANE
Inula helenium
Use in rabies or hydrophobia, digestive problems, diarrhea, stimulant, relaxant and tonic to the mucus membranes, useful in coughs, asthma and bronchitis
ENDIVE
Cichorium endiva
EPHEDRA
American species
The pharmaceutical agent, ephedrine, which is often prescribed by doctors for some of the above problems, is entirely derived from the Ephedra species (Chinese mahuang and the American desert or Mormon or Brigham tea). If ephedrine in its full, isolated strength, is taken with either of the above herbs, it most likely will cause an abnormally large amount of the drug to be present in the system. This can lead to nervousness, restlessness, headache, heart palpitation, sweating, nausea, and vomiting in moderate overdoses, and anxiety, confusion, delirium, muscular tremors, rapid and irregular pulse in larger overdoses. None of the Ephedra species is compatible with natural cardioactive drugs. In other words, mahuang and Brigham tea should not be mixed with or taken at the same time digitalis (foxglove), squill, mistletoe, and other heart-stimulants are taken. They should be taken separately from each other (at least 3-4 hours apart just to be safe). Mahuang of Chinese ephedra has more ephedrine, as a rule, than Brigham or desert tea has. Therefore, in speaking about this herb, we shall refer to its most active constituent, ephedrine, instead of the common names it so often goes by. Ephedrine has a slight local anaesthetic action wherever it is absorbed into the body tissues. The mucous membranes in the lungs and nasal passages experience this which prevents weed pollen or dust from irritating otherwise, extremely sensitive areas. A decoction of the stems and roots of the herb have been used in parts of the Soviet Union for treating rheumatism and syphilis, and the juice of the berries has been given there for respiratory problems, it is reported. The pharmacological action of ephedrine is quite similar to adrenalin. Its constricting or tightening activity is slower and less than that of adrenalin, but is more persistent. It is more stable within the body, unlike adrenalin, can be given orally. While it may act on the blood vessels in a relaxing or closing sense of the word, yet it operates entirely different on the bronchial tubes, producing an expansion especially when they are in spasm due to severe asthmatic coughing. This brings relief to breathing as a direct result. Ephedrine contracts the uterus and expands the pupils of the eye. It also stimulates the heart and central nervous system, being particularly useful for depression and the like. In India doctors have sometimes preferred ephedrine over the popular digitalis, for treating palpitation or rapid heart beat. The ephedrine gave good results where the other failed. Physicians there have recommended a tincture of ephedra to be used as a heart stimulant when that organ is infected with pneumonia, diphtheria, etc. Ephedrine has also been used by surgeons and anesthesiologists to combat falling blood pressure during an operation. It is administered in the back somewhere as a spinal anesthetic. A therapeutic dose of ephedrine is capable of overcoming the hangover of a hypnotic dose of a barbiturate in adults. The Chinese have used the root and joints in powdered form to stop excessive sweating and just the twigs alone for emphysema. Its range in the Western Hemisphere extends from the dry regions of North America (the Rockies down to northern Mexico) to South America, where they grow along the Andes, turning to Bolivia and the border of Paraguay, over the great plain to the Atlantic Ocean. They are not found in Central America, however, because of the warm, wet climate that usually prevails. Ephedra looks a lot like horsetail or shavegrass. The early pioneers in the western regions of the United States (particularly the Mormons) brewed this tea as a remedy for colds and kidney disorders as well as a blood purifier or "spring tonic." They also ground the dried stems and mixed the powder with pinon sap to concoct a salve to soothe open sores on people and animals alike. An historian has observed that the early Indians of Mexico used ephedra to control or cure syphilis. "Because that affliction is not entirely divorced from sexual promiscuity," he postulates, "some uncharitable critics suspected that teamster's tea might have become a fairly popular remedy at Salt Lake City, where it certainly picked up its designations of Brigham tea and Mormon tea." This was especially true when the Mormons lived plural marriage. Despite the unkind implications, however, this herb is one of the most remarkable plant success-stories of modern times. Imagine this if you can-here is an agent that first appeared in the ancient herbal of Chinese Emperor Shen-nung about 4000 years ago and has since spanned four complete millennia or better with healing virtues that at last have been discovered and used by medical science in the twentieth century!
EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus globulus
EVENING PRIMROSE
Oenothera biennis
Time of Administration: unknown (evening perhaps, as the name implies?)
Use for coughs colds mental depression, liver, spleen, digestion, multiple sclerosis, alleviates symptoms associated with PMS. In Europe, the oil of the common herb, evening primrose, is now used as a remedy for multiple sclerosis. A 30% success rate is reported. Taken from the seeds of the flower, the oil is very rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids-PUFA-as much as 9% gammalinolenic acid and 72% linoleic acid. More than 20 years ago, it was suggested that PUFA might modify the course of MS. Recently, a British scientist, R. H. S. Thompson, showed that brain tissue and blood cells from some MS patients had reduced levels of linoleic acid, a PUFA. Dr. David Horrobin of the Clinical Research Institute in Montreal is presently conducting a double blind study of oil of primrose on 40 multiple sclerosis victims. He suggests that some MS paffents are worse than they need be because of inadequate dietary intake of PUFA. Dr. Horrobin feels that MS sufferers may need more PUFA than healthy people. The higher cholesterol levels of these patients seems to corroborate his opinion. ("Herb Remedy for MS", Alive, p. 32 (1978, Canadian health magazine). Nutritionally assist in balancing the blood cholesterol with triglyceride levels. Key nutr. Gamma linolenic acid, potassium salts.
EYEBRIGHT
Euphrasia officinalis
Time of administration: mid-morning to mid-afternoon.
Excellent for weak eyesight, it has a cooling and detoxifying effect making it good for inflammations. Use internally and externally as an eye wash. Key nutr. Niacin, riboflavin, cobalt, silica. Eyebright has some unusual characteristics with which other herbs have not been blessed. There is in the herb, more principally the flowers, those volatile properties, which when applied in the eye, soon become activated by the sunlight and saturate the conjunctiva, cornea, sclerotic, chorloid, ciliary muscle and process, iris, suspensory ligament, both posterior and anterior fluid chambers, lens, retina, optic nerve, and other miscellaneous tissue membranes connected thereto. The herb will strengthen all of these and provide an elasticity or greater resiliency to the important nerve and optic devices responsible for our sight. Or where there may be a certain laxity in any of these parts, it will help to tighten them up to normal again. In other words, its chemical constituents regulate the tensile strength of all fiberous mass in the eyes, by either tightening up or relaxing them as the case may be. The herb is a chemical conditioner in this respect. And light is the key to its successful performance here. Night-time or the dark is detrimental to its operations. Some ophthalmologists have observed in their cataract patients who have diligently used this herb as an eyewash, that the progress of the cataracts, in certain instances, was retarded to quite an extent. Eyebright has an antiseptic quality about it that is useful for fighting infection in the eyes. A few have discovered that using the single herb together with powdered yucca root, as an eyewash, has helped to remove cataracts in their first year or earlier stages of development. It has been said that too much wine or strong drink will cause a man to see double or experience blurry vision as a result of his intoxication. But one old herbalist from 16th-century England clairned: "Much commendeth the wine made with Eyebright put into it when it is new made and before it worke (Which because we cannot make in our land, I could wish that the Eyebright might be tunned up with our strong beere in the same manner . . . ) to helpe the dimnesse of sight, and saith that the use thereof restored old men's sight to read small letters without spectacles that could hardly read great ones with their spectacles before . . ." The nomenclature for this herb is fairly simple scientifically-Euphrasia ol~cicinalis. But the same common name- eyebright-is used to describe several other kinds of plants by different herbalists. Witness this for example: John Lust calls American centaury, "eyebright" as well, while Mrs. Grieve assigns the name "eyebright" to common clary and, of all things, Lobelia inpata. The "doctrine of signatures" common throughout Medieval Europe, suggested that the dark spot in the middle of the red, purple or white flowers would make it very useful for the eyes, hence its popularity grew as a result of this superstitious belief.
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