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

Relora is an exciting new natural anti-anxiety and stress relief ingredient used to control stress-related eating and drinking that has the added value of being non-sedating with potential anti-depressant properties.

Relora was developed to improve mood, help stressed individuals relax, and to normalize the hormones related to stress-induced eating. Eighty percent (80%) of stressed adults studied feel more relaxed with Relora. Relora has also been shown in a pilot study to normalize cortisol levels in stressed individuals. Preliminary findings suggest that Relora can decrease the cravings for high fat, high sugar foods in stressed individuals, most likely due to its ability to normalize stress hormone levels that cause these cravings.

About Relora:

Relora was developed in America. Relora is a proprietary, standardised extract of 2 plant extracts Magnolia officinalis and Phellodenron amurense which studies show to be a safe, effective, rapid-acting, non-sedatingsupplement, which promotes relaxation, calm and a feeling of well-being.

Advance Research:

In a clinical study conducted, 50 people suffering from chronic stress were administered 200 mg of Relora three times daily for two weeks. Results showed that 8 out of 10 participants felt more relaxed and 7 out of 10 reported more restful sleep. Post trial analysis revealed 78% of the patients felt more relaxed, and while the product does not cause significant sedation 74% of the patients also experienced a restful night’s sleep. Only 24% of participants reported drowsiness. In addition, Relora was judged to be gentle on the stomach by 94% of the subjects, and no significant side effects were reported.

How Relora Works?

Relora was designed and evaluated to support healthy management of stress-related symptoms such as irritability,depression, emotional ups and downs, restlessness, tense muscles, poor sleep, and concentration difficulties. It uses an advanced combination of magnolia and phellodendron extracts to help support normal levels of the cortisol and DHEA hormones in the body to promote the management of stress related symptoms. Relora works by binding to stress receptors in the nervous system to promote relaxation and feelings of well being while ignoring receptors associated with sedation.

Relora Remedy:

Relora works quickly, normally within 45 minutes and promotes Relaxation.

A feeling of general well being.

A reduction in anxiety.

The natural stress management ingredient Relora may also help cut snacking.

Relora lowered cortisol levels by 37 per cent and increased DHEA by 227 per cent.

Relora contains two patent-pending proprietary plant extracts, one from Magnolia officinalis and the other from Phellodendron amurense. In initial human trials eight out of 10 stressed individuals felt more relaxed, seven out of 10 enjoyed more restful sleep, and nine out of 10 said it was gentle on the stomach.

Ajamoda
Black Cherry
Black Choke
Caban Cherry
Choke Cherry
Padmaka
Rub Cherry
Virginia Prune
Wild Black Cherry
Wild black cherry grows from Nova Scotia to Florida and as far west as the Dakotas, Utah and Arizona. Wild black cherry towers high at roughly 100 feet or so and has a trunk circumference somewhere between 4 and 5 feet. The trunk is covered with rough, black bark.

PARTS USED

Inner bark.

USES

Figuring in official pharmacopoeias and much used in the Anglo-American tradition, black cherry bark effectively counters chronic dry and irritable coughs. Combined with coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), it treats asthma and whooping cough, “The astringent bark also eases indigestion and the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, especially when these conditions are of nervous origin.

Other medical uses – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD ).

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to North America, black cherry grows throughout much of the US. Black cherry is cultivated in central Europe for its lumber. The bark is collected in late summer and early autumn.

CONSTITUENTS

Black cherry contains prunasin (a cyanogenic glycoside that yields hydrocyanic acid), benzaldehyde, eudesmic acid, coumarins, and tannins. Prunasin reduces the cough reflex.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Many people use wild cherry tincture or syrup, taking 2-4 ml three to four times per day.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

Very large amounts of wild cherry pose the theoretical risk of causing cyanide poisoning. However, this has not been observed in clinical practice, making it a very safe herbal remedy.

Source: herb�

Agrimony
Burr Marigold
Church Steeples
Cocklebur
Harvest Lice
Liverwort
Philanthropos
Rat’s Tail
Stickwort
White Tansy

A pretty plant, bearing spikes of tiny yellow flowers (church steeples) and fruit with hooked bristles at the top (cockleburs), agrimony grows wild by roadsides, fields, and woods. Although the plant has no narcotic properties, tradition holds that when placed under a person’s head, agrimony will induce a deep sleep that will last until it is removed.

Folklore aside, agrimony has a long history of medicinal use. The English poet Michael Drayton once hailed it as an “all-heal,” and through the ages it did seem to be a panacea. The ancient Greeks used agrimony to treat eye ailments, and it was made into brews to cure diarrhea and disorders of the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys. Anglo-Saxons made a solution from the leaves and seeds for healing wounds; this use continued through the Middle Ages and afterward, in a preparation called eau d’ arquebusade, or “musket-shot water.” Later, agrimony was prescribed for athlete’s foot.

In the United States and Canada, late into the 19th century, the plant was prescribed for many of these ills and more: for skin diseases, asthma, coughs, and gynecological complaints, and as a gargle for sore throat.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

Agrimony has long been used to heal wounds because it staunches bleeding and encourages clot formation. Astringent and mildly bitter it is also a helpful remedy for diarrhea and a gentle tonic for the digestion as a whole. Combined with other herbs such as corn silk, agrimony is a valuable remedy for cystitis and urinary incontinence, and has also been used for kidney stones, sore throats, rheumatism, and arthritis.
Other medical uses – Food allergies, Celiac disease, Emphysema, Eyelid problems, Hangover.
Culinary uses – For a pleasant honey-flavored tea, steep 5 to 10 ml (1 to 2 teaspoons) of powdered agrimony or 15 ml (3 teaspoons) of lightly crushed fresh agrimony in 250 ml (1cup) of boiling water. If desired, sweeten with honey or flavor with licorice.
Add the flowers to home-brewed beer.
Craft uses – Include fragrant agrimony in sweet-smelling sachets and potpourris.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Agrimony is a native European herb commonly found in marshes, wet meadows, and in open areas. Agrimony is harvested when in flower in summer.
Agrimony grows in most types of soil. It is naturally adapted to alkaline soils, but also tolerates somewhat acidic soil. While easy to cultivate in dry soil, the plants do need water during dry periods or they may not flower.
Prefers full sun, but keep the soil moderately moist. Also tolerates partial shade.
Sow seeds outdoors in the early spring. (You can improve germination considerably by storing the seeds in damp soil in the refrigerator for 6 weeks prior to planting.) Plant seeds 1 cm (1/2 inch) deep. Once established, agrimony tends to self-seed.
May also be propagated by root division. Divide the plants in spring to provide time for the winter buds to form. When dividing the crown, be sure to include a live stem.
Space plants 25 cm (10 inches) apart.
Usually pest- and disease-free.

RESEARCH

Agrimony’s blood-staunching and anti-inflammatory properties have been established by experiments in China.

CONSTITUENTS

Agrimony contains tannins, coumarins, flavonoids, including luteolin, volatile oil, and polysaccharides.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Infusion: pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoonfuls of the dried herb and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day.
Tincture: take 1-3ml of the tincture three times a day.

SIDE EFFECTS AND CAUTIONS

Agrimony may cause some people to experience photo dermatitis, a skin rash that appears after eating the herb and subsequently being exposed to sunlight.
Some studies have shown that agrimony can lower blood pressure. Don′t consume this herb if you are undergoing anticoagulant therapy or medication treatment for high or low blood pressure.
Agrimony is reputed to affect the menstrual cycle, so you should avoid it if you are pregnant or nursing.
Because agrimony tea has a high tannin content, it should be consumed in moderation. Adding milk to your tea helps prevent tannins from being harmful.

APPLICATIONS

AERIAL PARTS / LEAVES:
INFUSION – A gentle remedy, ideal for diarrhea, especially in infants and children. Can be taken by breastfeeding mothers to dose babies.
TINCTURE – More potent and drying than the infusion, and effective if the condition involves excess phlegm or mucus. Use for cystitis, urinary infections, bronchitis, and heavy menstrual bleeding.
POULTICE – Apply a poultice of the leaves for migraines.
WASH – Use the infusion for wounds, sores, eczema, and varicose ulcers.
EYEWASH – Use a weak infusion (10 g herb to 500 ml water) for conjunctivitis.
GARGLE – Use the infusion for sore throats and nasal mucus.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

Pick the leaves, flowers, and stems in early summer, when the plant is in flower. All parts may be used fresh or dried.
To dry agrimony, spread out the leaves, flowers, and stems on a wire rack in a warm, shaded location. When dry, crumble the material to powder, and store in airtight jars.

ANTACID WINE

* 3 cups (750 ml) red wine
* 1 cup (40 g) fresh agrimony leaves
* 1/2 cup (20 g) alfalfa leaves
* 1/4 cup (10 g) oak bark

Macerate the crushed plants in the wine for 1 month. Strain. Drink 2 T (25 ml) 3 times daily to eliminate stomach hyperacidity.

Adiantum capillus-veneris
Maidenhair Fern
Rock Fern
Venus’- hair Fern

A plant of great delicacy, maidenhair fern has a thin, polished, black main leafstalk and fanlike leaflets supported by stalks as fine as hair. The plant has a gossamer look that makes it in demand for dried flower arrangements. Maidenhair fern prefers a wet environment, usually growing in limestone soils dampened by waterfall spray. Water runs off its foliage with the result that, even after being immersed in water, it emerges with dry leaves-hence its scientific name, Adiantum, meaning “unwetted.” The fern’s association with hair gave rise to an old belief that drinking a tea made from the plant could keep hair from falling out. Unhappily, it has no such powers.

A tea from the fresh plant has been used as an expectorant in treating coughs since the time of the ancient Greeks. Later herbalists prescribed maidenhair fern for more serious respiratory conditions, such as pleurisy, but with less success, for it is not a potent plant. Maidenhair fern was also employed to promote menstruation and as a mild diuretic.

A relative is the northern maidenhair (A. pedatum), which has a somewhat forked stalk, as opposed to the single stalk of A. capillusveneris, also called southern maidenhair fern.

PARTS USED

Aerial parts.

USES

Still used by Western herbalists to treat coughs, bronchitis, excess mucus, sore throat, and chronic nasal congestion, maidenhair fern also has a longstanding reputation as a remedy for conditions of the hair and scalp.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Europe and North America, maidenhair fern grows in moist, shady sites.

CONSTITUENTS

Maidenhair fern contains flavonoids (including rutin and isoquercitin), terpenoids (including adiantone), a tannin, and mucilage.

APPLICATIONS
LEAVES:
FLUID EXTRACT – An extract of the fresh leaves is marketed in Europe for treating cerebral arteriosclerosis in the elderly and for diseases of the peripheral circulation.
TINCTURE – Combine with other cardiovascular herbs, such as greater periwinkle and lime flower, for circulatory problems, or with king’s clover for venous disorders.
INFUSION – Make with 50 g dried leaves to 500 ml water, and take for arteriosclerosis and varicose conditions. Use as a wash for varicose ulcers or hemorrhoids.

SEEDS:
DECOCTION – Combine with herbs  such as ma huang, elecampane, or mulberry leaves for asthma and severe or persistent coughs: 3 – 4 seeds are enough for three doses.

MAIDENHAIR FERN SYRUP

Equal parts, dried and crumbled.

* 2 cups (40 g) fresh maidenhair fern leaves
* 4 cups (1 liter) water
* 2 cups (500 ml) unpasteurized honey

Boil the plant in the water for 3 minutes, cover and infuse for 3 hours. Strain the decoction, and then gently melt the honey, without bringing to a boil, for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into a glass bottle. Store in the refrigerator and consume within 2 months at a rate of 1 to 2 T (15 to 30 ml) diluted in water, 3 times daily. Take in the event of chronic pulmonary disease, anemia or persistent skin disorders. This gentle treatment can be followed for 1 month without risk, by adding other, more caustic pectoral plants such as horseradish or wild thyme, but in small quantities.

Also Known As:

Polygonum bistorta
Adderwort
Bistort
Dragonwort
Easter Giant
English Serpentary
Osterick
Passions
Patience Dock
Red Legs
Sweet Dock

Bistort – a hardy perennial with slender stems, growing up to 30 inches tall. Each stem is topped by a dense cylindrical cluster of tiny white or pinkish flowers (May-August). Lower down the stem grow long bluish-green leaves that are lance shaped; higher up, the leaves become smaller. The rhizome of bistort (underground stem) is dark brown to black, thick, knobby, and twisted into an S or double-S shape.

Dense clusters of tiny pink blossoms atop slender stalks in a forest clearing or in a meadow-that is bistort, a common summer sight in the wild throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Two species native to the Old and New Worlds, P. bistorta and P. bistortoides respectively, are closely akin. The name bistort comes from Latin word elements meaning “twice-twisted.” This refers to the gnarled appearance of bistort’s dark brown rhizome, or underground stem.

Traditional uses of bistort in herbal medicine are varied. In Shakespeare’s day the juice of the bistort served as a remedy for nasal polyps. The rhizome of bistort, boiled in wine, was used for diarrhea and dysentery. The same decoction reportedly checked heavy menstrual bleeding, stopped vomiting, and healed mouth and throat inflammations. Bistort also had a reputation as a mouthwash that would fasten loose teeth. A common thread unites most of these uses-namely, bistort’s high tannin content, which makes it astringent and therefore effective in checking bleeding and diarrhea. Because the rhizomes are starchy, they served as famine food, roasted, boiled in soup, or ground to make flour. Young bistort leaves may be cooked and eaten like spinach.

PARTS USED

Root, rhizome, leaves.

USES

One of the most strongly astringent of all herbs, bistort is used to contract tissues and staunch blood flow. It makes a valuable mouthwash and gargle for treating spongy gums, canker sores, and sore throats, and is also useful as a wash for small burns and wounds, a douche for excessive vaginal discharge, and an ointment for hemorrhoids and anal fissures. Internally, bistort may be taken to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and conditions such as dysentery and irritable bowel syndrome that give rise to diarrhea. Bistort is occasionally used in cases of urinary problems such as cystitis and for upper respiratory congestion.

HABITAT AND CULTIVATION

Native to Europe, Asia, and North America, bistort prefers damp conditions. The leaves are gathered in spring, the rhizome in autumn.

CONSTITUENTS

Bistort contains polyphenols (including ellagic acid), tannins (15-20%), phlobaphene, flavonoids, and a trace of the anthraquinone emodin.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE

Decoction: pour a cup of water onto 1 teaspoonful of the dried herb, bring to the boil and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes. This should be drunk three times a day. For external use, this tea can also be used as a mouthwash or gargle.
Tincture: take 2 – 4 ml of the tincture three times a day.

COLLECTION AND HARVESTING

Roots and rhizomes of bistort are dug up in the autumn from the moist pastures where bistort thrives. The large roots should be cut longitudinally and dried in the sun.