Acne is an extremely common skin condition characterized by occasional flare-ups of blackheads, pimples, and pustules. Most often, pimples develop on the face, neck, upper chest, and/or the back. When the liver becomes congested or sluggish, toxins are not filtered out of the body but instead get into the bloodstream which can show up as a skin problem like acne.

Some of the factors that contribute to acne are:

• A diet having excessive sugar, fried, salt and processed foods.
• Insufficient intake of water, fruit, vegetables, and fibre.
• Excessive intake of foods such as chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, milk products, and seafood and other iodine-rich foods.
• Being overweight.
• Use of certain birth control pills, steroids, and lithium.

Certain herbs that purify the bloodstream of toxins by improving liver function are used to treat acne. Some of the major herbs for acne are:

• Burdock,
• Yellow Dock,
• Dandelion Root
• Red Clover
• Sarsaparilla

Source : iloveindia.com

Bromelain is not a single substance, but rather a collection of enzymes and other compounds. It is a mixture of sulfur-containing protein-digesting enzymes—called proteolytic enzymes or proteases—and several other substances in smaller quantities including: peroxidase, acid phosphatase, protease inhibitors, and calcium. It is primarily produced in Japan and Taiwan.

History
A researcher named Chittenden first identified the presence of proteolytic enzymes in pineapple juice around 1892 and called it ‘bromelin′. Later the term ‘bromelain′ was introduced and originally applied to any protease from any plant member of the plant family Bromeliaceae. Bromelain was first introduced as a therapeutic supplement in 1957. Research on bromelain apparently was first conducted in Hawaii but more recently has been conducted in countries in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Germany has recently taken a great interest in bromelain research, where bromelain is currently the 13th most widely used herbal medicine.

Source
Bromelain is present in all parts of the pineapple plant (Ananas comosus) but the stem is the most common commercial source, presumably because it readily available after the fruit has been harvested. Pineapples have had a long tradition as a medicinal plant among the natives of South and Central America. However, just eating pineapple will not give you a great deal of extra bromelain, because it is mostly concentrated in the stem, which is not nearly as tasty (albeit still edible).

Uses
Along with papain, bromelain is one of the most popular enzymes for meat tenderizing. Historically, meat tenderizing enzymes were often injected into the muscle of a food animal while it is still living. This practice has been largely discontinued, replaced with various postmortem application methods which are acceptable for lesser quality cuts. Today, approximately 90% of meat tenderizer use is in consumer households. Bromelain is sold in a powdered form, which is combined with a marinade or directly sprinkled on the uncooked meat. The enzyme will penetrate the meat, and by a process called forking, cause the meat to be tender and palatable when cooked. If the enzyme is allowed to work for too long, the meat may become too “mushy” for many consumers’ preferences.

Bromelain can be used in a vast array of medical conditions. It was first introduced in this area in 1957, and works by blocking some proinflammatory metabolites that accelerate and worsen the inflammatory process. It is an anti-inflammatory agent, and so can be used for sports injury, trauma, arthritis, and other kinds of swelling. Its main uses are athletic injuries, digestive problems, phlebitis, sinusitis, and aiding healing after surgery. It has also been proposed in the use of arthritis, chronic venous insufficiency, easy bruising, gout, hemorrhoids, menstrual pain, autoimmune disorders, and ulcerative colitis. Studies have shown that bromelain can also be useful in the reduction of platelet clumping and blood clots in the bloodstream, especially in the arteries. It may even be useful in the treatment of AIDS to stop the spread of HIV. Its side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, menorrhagia (excessively heavy menstrual flow) and possible allergic reactions. One study has also associated Bromelain with increased heart rate. Bromelain supplementation up to 460 mg has been shown to have no effect on human heart rate or blood pressure; however, increasing doses up to 1840 mg have been shown to increase the heart rate proportionately.

Bromelain is prepared from the stump or root portion of the pineapple plant after harvest of the fruit. This stump or root portion is collected from the fields, peeled and crushed to extract the juice containing the soluble Bromelain enzyme. Further processing includes precipitation of the enzyme to further purify it. This process is carried out in factories under strictly controlled conditions to assure microbiological quality and enzyme purity. The Bromelain products are all supplied as powders.

Other plant proteases include papain (from the papaya), actinidin (from the kiwi fruit), and ficin (from the fig). These proteases may induce a prickly sensation in the mouth when consumed.

Broccoli is one of the most versatile vegetables. It can be eaten raw with a dip, tossed into a stir fry or steamed and served with a pat of butter. Another versatile vegetable is broccoli sprouts. Broccoli sprouts are just as delicious as broccoli and can be a nice alternative to serving broccoli in the traditional sense.
Broccoli sprouts are easy to grow and even if you don’t have a large vegetable garden on your property you can be enjoying homegrown sprouts in a matter of days. They are tasty and can be added to a sandwich or a salad. Broccoli sprouts contain all of the same nutrients as the traditional heads of broccoli we are all accustomed to.

If you don’t have a green thumb but still want to enjoy the nutritional benefits of broccoli sprouts they can now be purchased in most supermarkets. Normally placed near the broccoli they are best when they are relatively fresh. You can tell how fresh they are by their texture. Broccoli sprouts should be crunchy and firm.

Most children shy away from vegetables that are unfamiliar to them. Trying new things is often the last thing they want to do. If you explain that the sprouts are just another form of the broccoli that they like in their salad or with dip, they will be more likely to give them a chance. If broccoli isn’t one of their favorite foods than it might be best not to mention that the sprouts are actually just another form of that.

Adding the broccoli sprouts to familiar dishes is also an effective way to introduce them to the younger members of your family. When added to a beef stir fry or chicken chow mein the taste blends well with the other ingredients.

Adding the sprouts to other dishes is just as easy. Salads are family favorites and often contain many assorted vegetables including tomatoes, carrots and radishes. Throwing in a few broccoli sprouts will only add to the crispness and flavor of the salad.

For many people broccoli just isn’t high on their list of favorite foods. For these people the idea of eating another food that is related to the vegetable is really unappetizing. However, it’s important to note that the flavor of the broccoli sprouts is different than the flavor of a head of broccoli. It’s impossible to know whether or not you’ll like the sprouts unless you give them a taste.

Broccoli sprouts are an inexpensive way to add a nutritional food to your menu. Experiment with them and create some dishes of your own.

The search for safer and more effective anti-inflammatory compounds has resulted in a growing interest in a time-tested botanical well recognized in Ayurveda materia medica. Boswellia serrata is a large, branching, deciduous tree, which grows abundantly in the dry, hilly parts of India.

The gum resin exudate of this tree, known in the vernacular as “Salai guggal,” has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for the management of arthritis, respiratory diseases and liver disorders.

The active principles found in the gum resin, specifically a combination of boswellic acids, have emerged as effective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory compounds (NSAIDs) with broad biological activities yet without NSAIDs characteristic gastrointestinal side effects. Compared experimentally with the anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, boswellic acids did not produce injury to the gastrointestinal mucosa. The most popular NSAID, aspirin, although much better tolerated than its parent compound salicylates, still has serious side effects, e.g. gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding, that limit its long-term use. In addition, aspirin is contraindicated in patients who have experienced asthma, urticaria (in general allergic reactions), and should be administered with caution in children and teenagers due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

Super Aspirin Effect
A plausible way to explain boswellic acids as NSAIDs in the treatment of inflammatory conditions is to compare these natural compounds to the mechanism of aspirin without the typical gastrointestinal irritation. Similarly to aspirin, boswellic acids inhibit the pathway leading from arachidonic acid (a derivative of our body’s phospholipids) to its metabolic derivatives called leukotrienes and prostaglandins. An excess of leukotrienes and prostaglandins may be responsible, directly or indirectly, for the classic signs of inflammation; redness (due to dilated vessels), swelling (due to the blood vessels leaking), pain (due to activation of the pain receptors) and increased heat over the affected part of the body. The specific biochemical mechanism of boswellic acids may differ from that of aspirin. Nevertheless, in both instances the mediators of inflammation, leukotrienes or prostaglandins, are being diminished and the inflammation subdued.

Studies designed to determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of boswellic acids have indicated that their primary mode of action involves the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase, the key enzyme responsible in the formation of leukotrienes. Additionally, boswellic acids did not impair the peroxidation of arachidonic acid by iron and ascorbate.4 These results suggest that boswellic acids are safe, specific, non-redox inhibitors of leukotriene synthesis and operate through a well defined mechanism.

One of the most interesting anti-inflammatory mechanisms of boswellic acids is their anti-complementary activity. In vitro experiments have shown that boswellic acids prevented a well-known inflammatory “chain-reaction” involving several protein compounds collectively known as “complement”. This is due to inhibition of an enzyme that activates one of the components of complement, C3 convertase. The domino effect of the complement in the course of rheumatoid arthritis (or a similar chronic inflammatory process) leads to a subsequent elevation of the enzymes [e.g. cathepsins, glucuronidase and human leukocyte elastase (HLE)] causing excessive catabolism (wasting) of the joint-forming glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans. This tissue-destroying process leads to continuously worsening joint disfigurement, pain and limited mobility. As a consequence of complement-mediated tissue destruction there is an increased release of markers (metabolites) of the connective tissue, e.g. hydroxyproline, hexosamine and uronic acid. Boswellic acids have been found to decrease the levels of tissue destructive enzymes and levels of urinary hydroxyproline, hexosamine and uronic acid in the acute and chronic phases of experimental arthritis.

Analysis of boswellic acids shows that there are four major b-boswellic acids involved in the inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase and related anti-inflammatory events. These are: b -Boswellic Acid, Acetyl-b-Boswellic Acid, 11-keto-b-Boswellic Acid, Acetyl-11-keto-b-Boswellic, listed here in the order of increasing anti-inflammatory properties.

Clinical Usefulness of Boswellic Acids
Boswellic acids have been found effective in alleviation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).2 A standardized extract of boswellic acids (200 mg tid) was evaluated in a four week double blind, cross-over trial in 30 patients suffering from RA. The mean arthritic score (sum of symptoms) and the biochemical index of inflammation in the group receiving boswellic acids came down significantly after the treatment. However, when the placebo was substituted (crossover), the subjective and objective indices of arthritis rose again.

In another 20-patient, double-blind, crossover study, a boswellia gum resin extract (200 mg tid) combined in an herbomineral formula was evaluated in the treatment of RA and separately in OA. Active and placebo treatments were given for a period of three months. After a washout period of two weeks the regimens were crossed-over. The three month active therapy resulted in a significant decrease in severity of pain, morning stiffness, improved joint mobility score, grip strength score and the overall disability score compared to the placebo group. The biochemical index of inflammation was also significantly improved due to the treatment.

Ulcerative colitis is an example of a chronic inflammatory process in the bowel, which may be caused and/or aggravated by excessive leukotriene production. Effects of Boswellia serrata gum resin (350 mg thrice daily for six weeks) vs. the NSAID sulfasalazine was studied in patients with ulcerative colitis. The tested parameters, including stool properties, histolopathology of rectal biopsies, and blood biochemistry improved after treatment with the gum resin. As a result of the treatment 82 percent of patients went into remission, as compared to a 75 percent remission rate obtained with sulfasalazine.

Boswellic acids were also tested in the management of asthma, since a new generation of anti-asthmatic drugs is based on the premise of being leukotriene inhibitors. In a double blind, placebo-controlled study 40 patients with a several years’ history of bronchial asthma were treated with 300 mg tid of boswellia gum resin for a period of six weeks. Seventy percent of the patients responded to the treatment as evidenced by a reduction in dyspnea, ronchi, and number of attacks, improvement in lung tests and blood biochemistry. Only 27 percent of the patients receiving placebo showed clinical improvement.

It should be noted that the potential of boswellic acids as a NSAID can only be fulfilled with proper standardization of the gum resin extract. Boswellin brand boswellic acids have used HPLC methods of analysis to standardize and validate the extract for the four main beta boswellic acids. Boswellin is standardized for a minimum 70% total organic acids, and no less than 25% of boswellic acids. This precise method of standardization is particularly important in view of the emerging importance of boswellic acids in health conditions ranging from minor to chronic inflammation requiring prolonged administration of a safe and predictable compound.

Boron Facts
Boron is a trace mineral that is needed by the body in minuscule amounts. It was discovered in 1910 as an essential element for plants but in 1985 scientific research discovered it was an essential nutrient for people, too. Boron benefits include healthy bones and proper brain functioning.

How it Works
Boron plays a major role in helping to prevent osteoporosis by helping build and maintain healthy bones. It helps reduce the loss of calcium and magnesium in the urine, which is needed to help build strong bones. Boron elevates levels of serum estrogen and ionized calcium (important because women who develop osteoporosis have low levels of these). Boron also helps maintain healthy cell membranes for normal cell function, and facilitates various enzyme reactions for the body. Studies have shown that a deficiency in this mineral may impair mental functioning and depress mental alertness.
Some Natural Sources

Fruits, vegetables, nuts, wine, cider, beer. Prunes and apricots and dried fruits are the best source.

Possible Benefits

Boron Helps Build and maintain healthy bones.
Boron Helps prevent bone thinning leading to osteoporosis.
Boron Enhances maintenance of healthy cell membranes.
Boron Maintains proper mental functioning and alertness.
Boron Elevates levels of serum estrogen and ionized calcium.
Boron Inhibits the development of osteoporosis.
Boron Helps retain adequate amounts of calcium and magnesium to prevent bone demineralization.

Safety Issues
Since the therapeutic dosage of boron is about the same as the amount you can get from food, it is probably fairly safe. Unpleasant side effects, including nausea and vomiting, are only reported at about 50 times the highest recommended dose.

One potential concern with boron regards its effect on hormones. In at least two small studies, boron was found to increase the body’s own estrogen levels, especially in women on estrogen-replacement therapy. Because elevated estrogen increases the risk of breast and uterine cancer in women past menopause, this may be a matter of concern for those who wish to take supplemental boron.Further research is necessary to discover whether boron’s apparent effect on estrogen is a real problem or not. At the present time, we would recommend getting your boron from fruits and vegetables: a large study found that high intake of boron from these sources did not affect breast cancer rates.

If you are receiving hormone-replacement therapy, use of boron may not be advisable due to the risk of elevating estrogen levels excessively.

Alder – a deciduous tree the European alder can reach 100 feet. The branches spread to a rounded crown. Broad, sharply toothed leaves, up to 4 inches long, are dark glossy green on top, pale and sticky below. Greenish-yellow male and reddish female flowers (March) are borne in separate cone like clusters (catkins). The fruits grow in roundish cones, green in summer and brown and woody in fall. The red alder resembles the European tree but has elliptical, bluntly toothed leaves.

So indestructible is the wood of the European alder that it was used to make the piles on which the city of Amsterdam and Venice’s famed Rialto section were raised. The tree’s remarkable resistance to wet rot made it a prime choice for posts and pilings in the construction of bridges and sluice gates, for water conduits, and for wooden shoes.

Herbalists through the centuries have used brews made from the bark and leaves of the alder as an astringent and a quinine substitute, and to fight inflammations and fevers. The leaves and branches also have a reputation as natural pesticides. The inner bark, boiled in vinegar and rubbed on the body, reportedly kills lice and scabies mites and dries up scabs.

The red, or Oregon, alder looks like its European cousin, which now grows wild in parts of eastern North America, and has similar properties. Alders are also valued for the nitrogen-fixing bacteria that colonize their roots and thereby enrich the soil.

PARTS USED

Bark, leaves.

USES

The astringent alder is employed most often as a mouthwash and gargle for tooth, gum, and throat problems. The drying action of a decoction of the bark helps to contract the mucous membranes and reduce inflammation. A decoction may also be used to staunch internal or external bleeding and to heal wounds. Alder is also used as a wash for scabies. In Spain, alder leaves are smoothed and placed on the soles of the feet to relieve aching. Leaves are used to help reduce breast engorgement in nursing mothers.

Both species supply natural materials for dyers and tanners and wood for smoking meats and fish and for making pilings used in wet locations. The red alder is used for furniture. Medicinally, the trees have fallen into general disuse.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Alder is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Alder thrives in damp places and along riverbanks. The bark and leaves are gathered in spring.

CONSTITUENTS

Alder contains lignans, tannin (10 to 20%), emodin (an anthraquinone), and glycosides.

Source: Herbs2000

Alchemilla vulgaris
Bear’s Foot
Lady’s Mantle
Lion’s Foot
Nine Hooks
Stellaria

Lady’s-mantle owes its scientific name and a certain pseudoscientific reputation to the fact that its leaves are efficient collectors of dew. The alchemists, to whom the name Alchemilla refers, believed that the dewdrops that gather on the leaves had magical powers to help them in their search for the philosopher’s stone, with which they expected to turn base metals to gold. The name lady’s-mantle refers to the plant’s shapely, pleated leaves, which resemble a medieval lady’s cloak-one suitable for the Virgin Mary, hence the plant’s original common name, Our-Lady’s-mantle.

Generations of folk healers have prized the plant for its astringent properties. They have used it externally and internally to stop bleeding (including excessive menstruation), to heal wounds, to relieve vomiting, and in a host of other cures. Early herbalists believed that the plant had such strong contractile powers that it could “restore” lost virginity and give new firmness to flabby breasts. Lady’s-mantle is still used in herbal medicine, but its chief function is as a garden plant. The leaves usually have nine lobes, which account for the name nine hooks.

Lady’s mantle is said to have an affinity for the female reproductive tract. Its astringent tannins help to reduce heavy periods, particularly useful around the menopause, while as a uterine stimulant and emmenagogue it stimulates menstrual flow and can be used to stimulate contractions during childbirth. Lady’ mantle can be used to relieve period pains and to regulate periods, and was a traditional remedy for inducing sleep. The astringent properties useful for treating diarrhea and gastroenteritis, while the salicylic acid reduces inflammation in the digestive and reproductive systems.

Lady’s mantle can be used externally as a douche or lotion (mixed with rose water if you wish) for vaginal discharge, irritatiqn and infection. It also makes good skin lotion for rashes such as eczema, cuts and wounds, sores and insect bites. As a mouthwash or gargle it can be used for bleeding gums, mouth ulcers and sore throats.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts, root.

USES

Lady’s mantle has always been prized as a wound healer. Its astringency ensures that blood flow is staunched and the first stage of healing soon gets under way. As the name implies, it is a valuable herb for women, taken principally to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, to relieve menstrual cramps, and to improve regularity of the cycle. It is prescribed for conditions such as fibroids and endometriosis. It is also used as a douche for excess vaginal discharge. Lady’s mantle has been used to facilitate childbirth, and is thought to act as a liver decongestant. Its astringency makes it a useful herb for treating diarrhea and gastroenteritis.

Other medical uses – Wrinkles.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Lady′s rnantle is native to Britain and continental Europe. Lady′ mantle is gathered in summer.

CONSTITUENTS

Lady’s mantle contains tannins, a glycoside, and salicylic acid.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Use the leaves as an infusion, 200 ml (8 fl oz), three times a day to help regularize the menstrual cycle and relieve heavy bleeding. In stomach upsets where there is diarrhea, take the tincture 2 ml (40 drops), three times a day.

HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY

The tannins act as an astringent, helping to reduce bleeding, particularly in the reproductive system, thus making it a valuable treatment for excessive menstrual bleeding and in the menopause. It is an excellent tonic for the uterus. The herb’s properties enable it to act as a hormonal balancer, which also means that it has the effect of normalizing an irregular cycle. The salicylic acid acts as a mild painkiller, which helps ease painful periods. The protective layer the tannins form on the tissues mean that this herb is also helpful in the digestive system where there is diarrhea.

APPLICATIONS

AERIAL PARTS:
INFUSION – Use for gastroenteritis or diarrhea: take up to five times daily for acute symptoms.
TINCTURE – Use for menstrual pain and irregularities or for menopausal problems.
OINTMENT – To relieve vaginal itching, combine 50 g ointment base with around 20 ml rosewater and 15 ml of the infusion or tincture, and use night and morning.
WASH – Apply the infusion externally for weeping eczema or sores.
MOUTHWASH / GARGLE – Use the infusion for sore throats, laryngitis, and mouth ulcers.
DOUCHE – Use the infusion for vaginal discharges and itching.
SUPPOSITORIES – Use for vaginal discharges and itching. Combine 20 drops tincture with 20 g cocoa butter to make 12-16 suppositories, depending on mold size.

Source Herbs2000

Actaea racemosa
Common Names
Cohosh bugbane, battle weed, black cohosh, black snakeroot, blueberry, blue ginseng, bugbane, cohosh, columbine-leaved leontice, cordate rattle-top, heart-leaved snakeroot, meadow rue leontice, papoose root, rattle root, rattlesnake root, rattle-top, rattle weed, richweed, squaw root, yellow ginseng.

Black cohosh consists of the underground parts (rhizome and roots) of the showy North American forest plant Cimicifuga racemosa (L.) Nutt., family Ranunculaceae. The plant’s common names are numerous and include black snakeroot, rattleweed, rattleroot, bugbane, bugwort, and squaw root (not to be confused with blue cohosh). The genus Cimicifuga contains twenty-three temperate climate species: six from North America, one in Europe, the remainder from temperate eastern Asia. Similar to black cohosh, several Asian species are traditionally used for gynecological conditions.

The medication was introduced into medicine by the American Indians, who valued it highly. They boiled the root in water and drank the resulting beverage for a variety of conditions ranging from rheumatism, diseases of women, and debility to sore throat. Black cohosh was subsequently used, especially by eclectic physicians, for all these conditions but particularly for so-called uterine difficulties to stimulate the menstrual flow. Black cohosh was one of the principal ingredients in Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound. Herbalists recommend it for all of the aforementioned ailments and also as an astringent, diuretic, alterative, antidiarrheal, cough suppressant, diaphoretic, and other uses.

Scientific studies designed to identify specific physiological activities in the medication have not been numerous, and most have been carried out abroad. The long-suspected estrogenic effects, based on its use to stimulate menstruation, could not be verified in comprehensive experiments in mice reported in 1960. Subsequent experiments have shown that a methanol extract of black cohosh contains substances that bind to estrogen receptors of rat uteri; the extract also causes a selective reduction in luteinizing hormone level in ovariectomized rats. These results are interpreted to mean that black cohosh possesses some degree of estrogenic activity.

A steroidal triterpene derivative called actein, was found to lower blood pressure in rabbits and cats but not in dogs. It produced no hypotensive effects in either normal or hypertensive human beings, although some peripheral vasodilation was observed.

Black cohosh is prescribed in Europe for various conditions, including symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrheal, and menopause. Reported activities include an estrogen-like action, binding to estrogen receptors, and suppression of luteinizing hormone. Occasional stomach pain or intestinal discomfort has been reported. Studies on mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity have proven negative, and a six-month study on chronic toxicity in rats at about ninety times the human intake failed to prove deleterious. Further studies on black cohosh are warranted.

PARTS USED
Root, rhizome.

USES
Gynecological uses – Black cohosh has long been used by Native Americans for female problems, for which reason it was also known as “squawroot.” Black cohosh is used today for menstrual pain and problems where progesterone production is too high, and for menopausal symptoms, especially hot flashes, debility, and depression.
Inflammation – Black cohosh is useful for inflammatory arthritis, especially when it is associated with menopause, and it is also an effective remedy for rheumatic problems, including rheumatoid arthritis.
Sedative properties – The sedative action of black cohosh makes it valuable for treating a variety of conditions, including high blood pressure and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Black cohosh is also valuable for whooping cough and asthma.
Other medical uses – Osteoarthritis

HOMEOPATHY
The rhizome of this plant was used by Native Americans as a cure for rattlesnake bites (hence its common name, rattle root) and for menstrual and labor pain. The root was also chewed as a sedative and to alleviate depression. A tea made with the herb was sprinkled in rooms to prevent evil spirits from entering. In herbalism, the root is still used as a diuretic, a cough suppressant, and to reduce inflammation and rheumatic pain.
Cimic. is largely a women’s remedy that acts on the nerves and muscles of the uterus. It is used for menstrual symptoms, such as congestion in the head before menstruation and heaviness and cramps in the small of the back during menstruation. This remedy is good for early miscarriage and it is also helpful for common complaints in pregnancy, such as nausea and vomiting, sleeplessness and shooting pain in the uterus. Postpartum depression and menopausal symptoms, such as fainting spells and hot flashes are also helped by Cimic.
Neck stiffness that causes headaches is helped by cimic., as well as emotional symptoms due to a hormonal imbalance, such as sighing, sadness, anxiety, and irritability.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION
Black cohosh is native to Canada and the eastern states of the US, growing as far south as Florida. Black cohosh prefers shady spots in woods and shrubby areas. The herb is now grown in Europe and can be found in the wild, having self-seeded from cultivated plants. Black cohosh is grown from seed, and the root is harvested in autumn.

RESEARCH
Menopause herb – Research has confirmed the validity of traditional knowledge. The results of a German trial, published in 1995, revealed that black cohosh in combination with St. John’s wort was 78% effective at treating hot flashes and other menopausal problems.
Estrogenic properties – Black cohosh has a well-established estrogenic action and is thought to reduce levels of pituitary luteinizing hormone, thereby decreasing the ovaries’ production of progesterone.

CONSTITUENTS
Black cohosh contains triterpene glycosides, isoflavones, isoferulic acid, volatile oil, and tannins.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE
Black cohosh can be taken in several forms, including crude, dried root, or rhizome (300-2,000 mg per day) or as a solid, dry powdered extract (250 mg three times per day). Tinctures can be taken at 2-4 ml per day. Standardized extracts of the herb are available and contain 1 mg of deoxyacteine per tablet. The usual amount is 40 mg twice per day. Black cohosh can be taken for up to six months, and then it should be discontinued.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS
Black cohosh has an estrogen-like effect, and women who are pregnant or lactating should not use the herb. Large doses of this herb may cause abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, and dizziness. Women taking estrogen therapy should consult a physician before using black cohosh.

HOW IT WORKS IN THE BODY
Gynecologically, in North America, it is thought that black cohosh balances estrogen by stabilizing it. In European herbalism it is thought to have an estrogenic action, which actively works to reduce progesterone and promote estrogen levels in the body. It is therefore used where there is a lack of estrogen and an excess of progesterone. In the musculoskeletal system it is used as an anti-inflammatory in arthritic conditions. Its sedative qualities have applications in other systems, for example, in lowering blood pressure, in reducing spasm and tension, and in the respiratory system.

Biotin is used in cell growth, the production of fatty acids, metabolism of fats, and amino acids. It plays a role in the Krebs Cycle, which is the process in which energy is released from food. Biotin not only assists in various metabolic chemical conversions, but also helps with the transfer of carbon dioxide. Biotin is also helpful in maintaining a steady blood sugar level. Biotin is often recommended for strengthening hair and nails. Consequently, it is found in many cosmetic and health products for the hair and skin.

Deficiency is extremely rare, save in cases where people have ingested large amounts of raw egg white over long periods of time, as intestinal bacteria generally produce in excess of the body’s daily requirement. For that reason, statutory agencies in many countries (e.g., the Australian Department of Health and Aging) do not prescribe a recommended daily intake.

Uses

Hair problems
Biotin supplements are often recommended as a natural product to counteract the problem of hair loss in both children and adults. There are, however, no studies that show any benefit in any case where the subject is not actually biotin deficient. The signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency include hair loss which progresses in severity to include loss of eye lashes and eye brows in severely deficient subjects. Some shampoos are available that contain biotin, but it is doubtful whether they would have any useful effect, as biotin is not absorbed well through the skin.

Cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis)
Children with a rare inherited metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU; in which one is unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine) often develop skin conditions such as eczema and seborrheic dermatitis in areas of the body other than the scalp. The scaly skin changes that occur in people with PKU may be related to poor ability to use biotin. Increasing dietary biotin in the diet has been known to improve seborrheic dermatitis in these cases.

Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes often have low levels of biotin. Biotin may be involved in the synthesis and release of insulin. Preliminary studies in both animals and people suggest that biotin may help improve blood sugar control in those with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes. [citation needed]

Biotin deficiency
Biotin deficiency is a rare nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of biotin. Biotin deficiency can have a very serious, even fatal, outcome if it is allowed to progress without treatment. Signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency can develop in persons of any age, race, or gender. Biotin deficiency rarely occurs in healthy individuals, since the daily requirements of biotin are low, many foods contain adequate amounts, intestinal bacteria synthesize small amounts, and the body effectively scavenges and recycles biotin from bodily waste. However, deficiency can be caused by excessive consumption of raw egg-whites over a long period (months to years). Egg-whites contain high levels of avidin, a protein that binds biotin stongly. Once a biotin-avidin complex forms, the bond is essentially irreversible. The biotin-avidin complex is not broken down nor liberated during digestion, and the biotin-avidin complex is lost in the feces. Once cooked, the egg-white avidin becomes denatured and entirely non-toxic.

Initial symptoms of biotin deficiency include:

Dry skin
Seborrheic dermatitis
Fungal infections
Rashes including erythematous periorofacial macular rash
Fine and brittle hair
Hair loss or total alopecia
If left untreated, neurological symptoms can develop, including:

Mild depression, which may progress to profound lassitude and, eventually, to somnolence
Changes in mental status
Generalized muscular pains (myalgias)
Hyperesthesias and paresthesias
The treatment for biotin deficiency is to simply start taking some biotin supplements.

Biochemistry
Biotin is a cofactor responsible for carbon dioxide transfer in several carboxylase enzymes:

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase
Propionyl-CoA carboxylase
Pyruvate carboxylase
The attachment of biotin to various proteins, called biotinylation, is an important process in DNA transcription and replication.

Biotin binds very tightly to the tetrameric protein streptavidin, with a dissociation constant Kd in the order of 10-14 mol/L. This is often used in different biotechological applications. Until 2005, very harsh conditions were required to break the biotin-streptavidin bond (Holmberg et al, 2005).

Ajuga reptans
Bugle
Carpenter’s-herb
Common Bugle
Middle Comfrey
Sicklewort

Bugle – a perennial herb growing up to 12 inches tall. Its creeping runners produce rosettes of leaves; the whole structure forms a carpet like mat. The lower leaves are spatula-shaped and often have wavy edges, while the upper leaves are toothed and elliptical or oval. Small blue to purple flowers (May-July), 1/2 inch across, are borne in dense terminal spikes.

Opinion varies as to the value of bugle. Compare the old saw that promises, “He that has bugle and sanicle thumbs his nose at the surgeon,” with the view of a modern French herbalist that bugle is the “most resolutely [medicinally] inactive of plants.” It is generally agreed, however, that bugle is more than just a pretty flower. As another of its names, carpenter’s-herb, suggests, bugle does have some ability to stop bleeding and to heal cuts, as do all plants that contain tannin. Bugle has also been given to stop lung and other internal hemorrhaging, and herbalists have recommended it for coughs, ulcers, rheumatism, and liver disorders, and to prevent hallucinations after excessive alcohol consumption. Some herbalists believe that bugle is mildly narcotic and sedative and may slow the heart rate in the way that digitalis does. Bugleweed’s properties other than wound healing have never been thoroughly researched, however.
Bugle’s species name, reptans, refers to the reptile like creeping of the plant’s runners.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

Bugle is bitter, astringent, and aromatic, but opinion varies as to its value as a medicine. Bugle has mild analgesic properties, and it is still used occasionally as a wound healer. Bugle is also mildly laxative and traditionally has been thought to help cleanse the liver.

Bugle is a specific for over-active thyroid glands, especially where the symptoms include tightness of breathing, palpitation and shaking. Bugle may safely be used where palpitations occur that are of nervous origin. Bugle will aid the weak heart where there is associated build-up of water in the body. As a sedative cough reliever bugle will ease irritating coughs, especially when they are of nervous origin.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia, bugle has become naturalized in North America. Bugle prefers damp woods and grassy and mountainous areas, and is usually gathered when-in flower in early summer.

CONSTITUENTS

Bugle contains iridoid glycosides including harpagide, which is also found in devil’s claw.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1 teaspoonful of the dried herb and let infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1-2ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

Bugle should be collected just before the buds open.

COMBINATIONS

Bugle may be used with nervines such as skullcap or valerian