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Granni Cameron’s Herbs
De-Stress Yourself
By Jeannie
Given all the attention to swine flu, I was tempted to list several other herbs to treat flu, but instead, I will cover three good herbs that are used for stress. Stress does lower the immune system and can make one more susceptible to illness. I will cover more cold and flu herbs next month.
In the meantime, I highly recommend Stephen Buhmer’s herbal book called, Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria. This book provides great information on treating colds and flu in addition to more serious infections. It also lists several immune booster soups and teas. One interesting piece of information provided by this book is related to honey. Mr.Buhmer advises that local wildflower honey is preferred to clover, or other types. In his opinion, honey bees that gather pollen from wildflowers tend to choose medicinal flowering plants which have beneficial effects. He also reports that clover, orange blossom, and other plants that honey bees use are generally heavily sprayed with pesticides. It is always good to use local honey from a known reputable source. Honey is also antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and can be anti-allergic. I also recommend Googling the relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and the flu (as well as other illnesses). I heard a great lecture from the Medicines from the Earth conference in Black Mountain, NC on this topic. I will write about that next month. As always the information provided in this column is not meant to replace medical information or care provided by a health care provider.
The three herbs to be discussed in this article are Holy Basil, Ashwaganda, and Rhodiola. Of the three, Holy Basil can be grown locally. Most natural food stores sell the tea. Both ashwaganda and Rhodiola are roots and can be purchased either online from Frontier Herbs or Mountain Rose Herbs. You may also find them at the local herb store, Otter and Trout.
Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is used in India on a daily basis and is an Ayurvedic herb. Its three varieties are Rama, Vana, and Krishna. Each has its own distinct flavor. Holy Basil is in the basil family, but has a stronger flavor than usual culinary basil. It is known as a sacred plant and called “Queen of the herbs.” It is used to reduce mental cloudiness, especially from daily marijuana or other drug use. Actions of this herb are anti-inflammatory, analgesic (relieves pain), antiviral, anti-allergic, lowers cholesterol, lowers blood glucose, regulates cortisol levels (cortisol levels are elevated in stress), and regulates the immune system (it lowers immune response in cases of autoimmune disease & increases the immune response when it is suppressed by stress or other causes). It can be used in a tea (either fresh or dried leaf or commercial product), tincture, powdered herb, or capsule. For more information on Holy Basil, consult David Winston’s book on Adaptogens.
Ashwaganda is another Ayurvedic herb. The root is used in western herbalism. In other parts of the world, all parts of the plant are used. This plant is not generally grown in the US, but may be ordered online or found in natural food stores that sell herbs. The root is usually powered and used in teas or rolled in honey or nut butters and eaten. It may also be added to food. It can be a sedative and lowers the stress response. Stephen Buhmer writes that it can protect the body from stress related diseases and regulates the immune system. It is not an immune system stimulator, like elderberry and Echinacea, but an immune tonic which supports the immune system. As with most immune tonics, it may take several months before it is known whether this herb is helpful. Other therapeutic uses are arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, anxiety, high cholesterol, and underactive thyroid. There are several cautions with this herb. It is high in nicotine so those who are trying to quit smoking may find that task more difficult. In larger doses it can be a hypnotic (causes sleepiness) and strong sedative. It is not to be used during pregnancy as it may cause miscarriage. For more information consult Stephen Buhmer’s book on Herbal Antibiotics or David Winston’s book on Adaptogens.
The last herb to be discussed is Rhodiola, an herb that is grown in the Alps, Himalayans, and other high altitude locations in Eastern Europe and Asia. The root is used in tea, tincture, or standardized extract. Therapeutic uses are high altitude sickness, anxiety, depression, insomnia, decreased mental and physical stamina. It protects the body from the effects of stress. It also balances blood sugar levels and reduces muscle stiffness and spasm related to physical activity. Several studies have found that it prevents stress induced heart damage, irregular heartbeat, and improves the strength of the heart muscle (see David Winston’s book). In Siberia, it is taken daily during cold season to prevent illness. For more information on this herb consult David Winston’s Adaptogens book and a 2002 article published in the HerbalGram, an excellent publication of the American Botanical Council.
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