Copyright © 2000 by David Simon, M.D.
The information contained in this book is not intended to serve as a replacement for
professional medical advice. Any use of the information contained in this book is at the
discretion of the reader. The authors and the publisher disclaim any and all liability arising
directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained in this book.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Simon, David, 1951–
The Chopra Center herbal handbook : natural prescriptions for perfect health / by David
Simon and Deepak Chopra.
Includes bibliographical references.
pbk.
1. Herbs—Therapeutic use—Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Medicine,
Ayurvedic—Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Chopra, Deepak. II. Title.
RM666.H33 S555 2000
615′.321—dc2100–024451
eISBN: 978-0-307-82910-8
v3.1
To the sta members of the Chopra Center for
Well Being who on a daily basis devote themselves to
meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs
of our guests and patients;
To the team members of MyPotential.com,
who support the vision of empowering people to live
a more fullling life;
and
To all loving souls on this planet who are committed
to healing themselves and the world.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We’d like to acknowledge our family and friends
who have supported the birth and development of this book:
Pamela, Max, and Sara Simon;
Rita Chopra, Gautama Chopra,
Mallika Chopra Mandal, and Sumant Mandal;
Peter Guzzardi;
Muriel Nellis and Jane Roberts;
and
James Nocito, for his beautiful artwork.
WEB SITES
If you have enjoyed this book and wish to learn more
about ways to enhance your physical, emotional, and
spiritual well being, visit our new Web site:
www.MyPotential.com
For more information about programs and courses
oered through the Chopra Center for Well Being,
visit our Web site:
www.Chopra.com
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
1. The Herbal Renaissance
2. A Brief Tour through Herbal History
3. Holistically Herbal
4. Science-of-Life Herbology
5. Restoring Balance, Creating Health
• Digestion
• Mind and Emotions
• Women’s Health
• Metabolism
• Men’s Health
• Pain, Arthritis, and Inammation
• Immunity
• Detoxication
• Rejuvenation and Energy
• Circulation
6. Making the Best Use of This Book
7. The Forty Herbs of the Chopra Center Herbal Formulary
8. Navigating the Herbal Forest
Epilogue
Notes
The Chopra Center Herbal Formulary Support Formulas
Recommended Herbal References
Recommended Ayurvedic References
Other Books by This Author
W
1
The Herbal Renaissance
The Lord created medicines out of the earth, and the wise do
not reject them.
—BOOK OF SIRACH 38:4
e are witnessing an unprecedented resurgence in natural
healing. The search for holistic approaches to enhance health
is permeating every aspect of our culture and society. Why is there
such an explosive interest in natural medicine? It is certainly not for
lack of success from our scientic approach to illness. Major
advances in physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, and genetics
have exponentially expanded our understanding of disease, and we
have developed previously unimaginable new ways to diagnose and
treat the aictions of humanity. Within the last fty years we have
eradicated smallpox, minimized the risk of many life-threatening
childhood diseases, performed sophisticated brain surgery, and
transplanted organs. In view of these obvious successes of our
modern medical system, we might imagine that the status of the
institutions of medicine would be at an all-time high. And yet we
know there is pervasive dissatisfaction and frustration with our
health care. How can we explain this paradox?
It is the nature of life to strive continually for more evolutionary
solutions to the endless challenges that arise. In this information
age, every intelligent person has access to a vast body of facts and
opinions on any subject of interest. People facing health concerns no
longer depend solely upon their physicians for advice and
information on the management of their illness. Whether or not you
have a health-care background, you have unprecedented
opportunities to learn about your problem. Through the Internet,
books, journals, newsletters, and support groups, more and more
people are formulating their own view of their illness and how they
want to approach it. Patients are no longer passive and are not
inclined to be as patient as they once were. There is a powerful
movement of self-empowerment and consumerism in the world
today that grew in part out of the sixties mindset of challenging
authority. Thalidomide, DES, Fen-Phen, and other highly publicized
drug recalls over the past generation have dampened our unbridled
enthusiasm for consuming every new pharmaceutical product as the
shortest distance between sickness and health. With expanding
information on the role of diet, stress, and activity on health and
disease, many people are asking these new questions of their health
providers: What should I be eating to help my body heal? How can I
better manage my stress? Is there a role for nutritional supplements in the
treatment of my condition?
Such questions reect a deeper one, which we hear each day at
the Chopra Center for Well Being: What more can I do to be an active
partner in my healing process? Unfortunately, most of our medical
colleagues are ill-prepared to answer these questions, and often
discourage their patients from asking them, directly or indirectly.
Consequently, more people are seeking alternative sources of
information. The now well-known report of Dr. David Eisenberg
showed that more than two in ve Americans sought out
“unconventional” medical treatment in 1997, while other studies
have put the number at closer to one in two.1, 2
What needs are being fullled by these unorthodox modalities? In
our experience at the Chopra Center, most people have not rejected
medical care; they simply want to explore other, less toxic
alternatives before resorting to a potent drug or procedure; they
want to be more than passive receptacles of physician-prescribed
drugs; they want to go beyond compliance to active partnership. It
is here that herbal medicine can make a contribution to the well-
being of individuals and of our community.
According to Ayurveda, India’s ancient medical system, human
beings are not merely thinking physical machines frozen in time and
space. Rather, we are networks of intelligence in a universe of
energy and information. The conscious energy eld of the universe
organizes into forms and phenomena spanning the entire range from
galaxies to subatomic particles. Somewhere in between are human
beings, with their physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual
layers. We are in constant and dynamic exchange with our
environment through our breathing, eating, eliminating,
perceptions, and interpretations. It is an illusion of our senses that
our boundaries end abruptly at the surface of our skin.
Within this framework, health is more than the mere absence of a
laboratory abnormality; it is the dynamic integration of
environment, body, mind, and spirit. Herbal medicine oers a gentle
approach to enhance this integration, particularly when the
imbalance has not gone too far. Healing plants allow us to reconnect
with our environment, accessing the power of nature as our
ancestors have done since antiquity. Herbs can help us normalize
disturbed physiological functions including digestion, elimination
and sleep. They can help restore weakened immunity, settle a
turbulent mind and promote detoxication and rejuvenation. Plants
provide us expanded and diverse options to synthesized drugs, but
they do not replace the appropriate use of pharmaceuticals.
We wouldn’t use a jackhammer to knock a nail into a wall, nor
would we expect to remove the nail with a tweezers. There is an
appropriate tool for every job, and this is certainly true for
medicines. In our earlier days as medical doctors, we would at times
prescribe a medication, simply because we did not have any other
tools in our toolbox. If we saw someone with annoying migraines,
we would prescribe a headache medicine. If we believed that a
patient was suering with mild depression, we would prescribe an
antidepressant. Diculty sleeping? Chronic back pain? Indigestion?
We could justify prescribing a pharmacological agent for just about
any problem you might have.
When we began seriously and systematically to use holistic
approaches, we saw people with conditions in which subtler, natural
options were more eective, with fewer side eects, than any
medication we could oer.
One of David’s rst experiences with natural medicine was with a
woman with migraine headaches who had not responded to
treatment for over a year. Despite a trial of every known headache
drug, her discomfort persisted, creating frustration for the patient
and her doctors, who received regular calls from the emergency
room announcing her arrival. Finally, out of desperation, she was
taught a simple meditation technique, instructed to make minor
changes in her diet, and she was prescribed an herbal tea made of
feverfew. After just a few weeks she related a major improvement in
her headache pattern, and within six months no longer required
medical care for what had been a lifelong condition. Deepak vividly
recalls one of his early cases in which he prescribed herbal
aromatherapy for a woman with life-threatening heart irregularities.
She was taught to associate the herbal scent with a healing
meditation technique and was eventually able to eliminate her need
for medication, to the astonishment of her cardiologist. The plural of
anecdote is not science, but even doctors can be impressed by their
personal experiences. We are increasingly reassured by the growing
body of scientic literature demonstrating the measurable benets
of herbal remedies, which we see every day at the Chopra Center.
On the other hand, people sometimes have unrealistic
expectations of herbs. Resorting to a blend of wishful thinking and
denial, women with abnormal mammograms, smokers with
problematic chest X-rays, and overweight people with dangerously
elevated blood sugars may go on quests to nd the “magical” herb
that will cause their physical problem to evaporate, preferably
without any other lifestyle change. With these patients, we have
learned that compassionate, honest education is the key to enlisting
their choice of a course that is realistic and likely to succeed. Herbs
can add tremendous value in these circumstances, but they are not a
substitute for appropriate medical care.
An herbal medicine can be a powerful ingredient in a holistic
health program, but it should not be expected to carry the entire
healing responsibility. Herbs can help support, nourish, and balance
the physiology, and they can help detoxify and replenish, but
although they can play an important role, herbs should not, by
themselves, be expected to eradicate metastatic cancer, cure
infertility, or reverse an inherited degenerative disease. Our goal in
this book is to honor plant-based medicines for their contribution to
our health without over- or underestimating their value. With this
approach, we believe we will see a greater interest in, and
acceptance of, these powerful, ancient healing substances.
The Antidote to Anguish and Alienation
In our growing mastery of the world, we may forget that there is a
profound underlying intelligence that expresses itself in nature.
Many people living in urban centers spend days, weeks, and months
without the opportunity to immerse themselves in a natural
environment. Driving through rush-hour trac to work in an oce
without access to fresh air alienates us from our environment and
ultimately from ourselves. Fast-food meals and commercial
entertainment provide few reminders that we ourselves are
magnicent expressions of Mother Nature. We believe that deep in
our evolutionary soul we long for a sense of connection to our
environment. Our resurgent fascination with herbs may nurture that
part of our spirit that is calling for a simpler life and a more
innocent time when we felt closer to the natural world. Perhaps we
are enamored with herbal medicines because it is in our nature to
use the plants in our environment to balance and heal us. To this
end, we hope The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook provides valuable
guidance on your journey to well-being.
O
2
A Brief Tour through Herbal History
He preferred to know the power of herbs and their value for
curing purposes, and, heedless of glory, to exercise that quiet
art.
—VIRGIL, AENEID
nce upon a time, a small, apelike creature pulled itself up on
two legs to get a better view of its environment. Over the next
several million years, its brain got bigger while its hair got thinner,
until about 100,000 years ago a tool-using, language-creating being
evolved that anthropologists now call human. While sampling their
surroundings, human beings developed an unwritten roster of which
plants in their environment tasted good, tasted bad, made them feel
better, or made them sick. This knowledge of vegetative power,
passed down from generation to generation, was collected to answer
the perennial questions that all of us face at times: How can I fulll
my hunger? How can I relieve my suering? How can I maintain my
vitality?
Long before our beginning as human beings, we were inextricably
interwoven with the plant kingdom. We cannot imagine a world
without green things, because we could not exist without plants.
From the time that plants and animals took their rst separate
evolutionary steps, we have remained interdependent. Without the
alchemy that plants perform of transforming light into sugar and
oxygen, animals could not have arisen or survived. We owe our very
existence to the herbal kingdom, although most of us rarely even
consider the contribution of herbs to our well-being. Although we
supply carbon dioxide for their consumption, our growing
exploitation of the natural environment leaves us in deepening debt
to the generous greenery that has sustained the animal world for
millions of years. One of our hopes in writing this book is to add to
the growing chorus of voices striving to alert humanity to the
recklessly dangerous self-destructive path that decimating our
natural habitats heralds. Immense untapped healing wisdom lives in
the plants of our planet, and it is both our responsibility and our
birthright to honor the gifts they oer. Let’s spend a few moments
looking at the important role that healing plants have played in our
lives since the dawn of humankind.
In the Beginning
The evolution of herbal medicine is a fascinating story. As every
parent experiences rsthand, infant human beings have a tendency
to put everything into their mouths. We suspect that early humans
had a similar propensity, sampling every fruit, ower, leaf, bark,
and root, looking for sources of nourishment. At times they
discovered powerful medicines, and at other times powerful poisons.
Often the same plant could be both, depending upon the dosage and
part ingested. A few leaves of foxglove infused into a tea could
strengthen the heart, while a more potent brew could stop it
altogether, after rst causing vomiting and turning one’s vision
green. Drops of sap from an unripe poppy could soothe a crampy
digestive tract and relieve the pain of a wound, but too much would
lead to constipation, lethargy, and even death. A decoction of senna
pods might induce a complete bowel evacuation, but a few too
many leaves could empty a person to the point of dehydration.
Some plants had powerful actions, while others were subtler. After
discovering the eect of a particular plant, eorts to dene the most
potent components would follow, be it the leaf, root, or berry.
Herbal knowledge advanced through trial and error, without the
benet of animal testing, but almost certainly with the benet of
animal observation. Many wild animals, from birds to gorillas, seek
out specic plants when they are feeling under the weather.
Attentive hunters may have noticed the bear chewing long pepper
after her fray with a venomous viper, or a wolf eating ipecac to
induce vomiting after consuming a poisonous lizard, and
subsequently investigated their medicinal properties.
As tribes became more procient in meeting their basic survival
needs, specialized roles could be supported, the rst of which was
that of the medicine person. In addition to knowledge about the
spirit world, the tribal healer developed a repertoire of secret
healing substances that was jealously guarded, selectively handed
down to suitably prepared initiates. Native cultures on every
continent developed healing traditions replete with medicines
derived from nature’s pharmacy. Although the herbal traditions of
Africa may be older, the recording of medicinal substances was rst
achieved in Asia.
Over 4,500 years ago the Chinese emperor Shen Nung cataloged a
compendium of medicinal herbs. At about the same time, Indus
Valley healers organized the body of knowledge that has come to be
known as Ayurveda. In both of these ancient cultures, healing herbs
and the knowledge of how to use them were held to be of divine
origin. In their compassion for the suering of humanity, the gods
bestowed their wisdom on the humble healing sages of antiquity,
who transmitted it to their students.
In Ayurveda, the timeless healing system from India, the ascetic
sage Bhardwaja went to Lord Indra to learn how human beings
could live long, happy lives. Bhardwaja imparted this knowledge to
Atreya, who handed it to Agnivesa, the rst to write it down. The
subsequent expansion by Charaka, a later disciple in the school of
Atreya, is still available today and remains one of the classic texts of
Ayurveda, describing almost four hundred medicinal herbs. One of
Atreya’s eminent students, Jivaka, is said to have passed his nal
exam by returning empty-handed after receiving instructions to
bring back all useless plants from the kingdom. With this response
he demonstrated the essential principle of Ayurveda—that all things
have healing potential.
Closer to home, the Egyptian school of medicine founded in
Alexandria three hundred years before the birth of Christ is believed
to have accumulated a substantial body of medical knowledge.
Unfortunately, we’ll never know for sure, since all the medical texts,
along with 700,000 other books, were burned by religious fanatics
in the fourth century A.D. The Greek system of medicine, established
at about the same time as the Alexandrian school, fared somewhat
better. Hippocrates, in his Materia Medica, carefully described many
herbal medicines still prized today, including poppy, rosemary,
sage, and mugwort. Several hundred years later, in the rst century
A.D., another Greek physician, Dioscorides, compiled De Materia
Medica. In his work, the physician to Emperor Nero described the
use of over ve hundred healing herbs. This work remained the
standard text of the medical arts through the Middle Ages.
The discovery of the New World by European explorers can
largely be attributed to the importance of herbal medicine. Five
hundred years ago the great Western European powers felt exploited
by the merchants tracking in herbs and spices from the Far East.
Finding a shortcut to the botanical riches of India was the primary
goal of Columbus when he sailed west at the end of the fteenth
century. The unanticipated interruption of his trip between Europe
and Asia by the American continent opened a new chapter in the
history of the world and medicine.
The New World unveiled a bounty of natural resources, including
tens of thousands of unique botanicals. Europeans encountered
Native American cultures that possessed rich and reliable knowledge
of the medicinal value of hundreds of indigenous plants. Early
settlers in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries experienced the
healing potency of many native plants that remain household words
today. Ginger, goldenseal, black cohosh, sassafras, ginseng, and
angelica are just a few of the original ora that were known to
aboriginal Americans and valued as healing substances. Eorts to
systematically catalog the natural pharmacy of America were
unfortunately neglected until many of the traditional healing
cultures had been destroyed. The contribution of indigenous
American medicine was nally recognized by the renowned
Philadelphia physician Benjamin Rush, who thus empowered other
early-nineteenth-century doctors to compile guides to Native
American plant lore. The practice of medicine in nineteenth-century
America blended a rich botanical pharmacy with an expanding
choice of chemically derived substances at a time when the division
between natural and scientic medicine had not yet been
established.
Medicine in the Scientic Age
The medical pharmacopoeia two hundred years ago was a primarily
a botanical compendium; not until the early 1800s were the rst
chemically derived drugs developed. One of the earliest eorts was
that of F. W. A. Sertürner, who extracted white crystals from opium,
which, when given to dogs, put them to sleep. He called this powder
morphine, after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. With the
development of more-sophisticated chemical methods, alkaloids
from other powerful plants were distilled, including cocaine from
coca leaves and quinine from the cinchona tree. As more puried
and concentrated derivatives of plants became available, the
importance of the original botanical sources faded into the
background. The prioritization of synthesized drugs over natural
sources became so complete that modern students at Western
medical universities receive no formal training in the use of
botanicals. Today’s physicians apply the term “medicine” solely to
compounds created by a pharmaceutical company and ingested in
the form of a tablet or capsule. The idea that an infusion, tea, or
tincture derived from an herb can be a therapeutic substance is a
foreign concept to most Western medical doctors.
The scientic age has brought us unparalleled prosperity. The
application of modern physics and chemistry principles has enabled
human beings to survive and thrive in an almost unlimited range of
environments. With cellular telephones, fax machines, lightweight
plastics, and synthetic bers we are capable of exploring and
communicating from outer space and the depths of the oceans.
Applying scientic principles to medicine has led to remarkable
diagnostic and therapeutic discoveries that have improved the
quality and length of our lives. Our ability to treat acute illnesses is
unprecedented in the history of humanity. However, our exclusive
reliance upon drugs in the treatment of illness has also led to
antibiotic-resistant bacteria and hundreds of thousands of serious
annual medical complications resulting from the overuse or misuse
of pharmacological agents.
In our quest to synthesize new and more-powerful
pharmaceuticals, the medical community has forgotten the
important role that medicinal plants continue to play. Of the 150
most popular pharmaceutical products sold today, over eighty
contain active ingredients derived from natural sources. From
morphine to Metamucil, from quinine to camphor, from aspirin to
atropine, many of our modern medicines are rooted in substances
with roots. Recently we have been reminded of the importance of
plant sources of drugs with the discovery of taxol, the powerful
chemotherapy agent derived from the Pacic yew tree. This was the
result of a concerted National Cancer Institute program in which
more than thirty thousand plants were screened for medicinal
activity.1 Other important cancer-ghting drugs have been derived
from botanical sources, including vincristine and vinblastine, from
the Madagascan periwinkle, and etoposide, a powerful
chemotherapy agent from the May apple plant.
Only about 2 percent of the more than 250,000 species of higher
plants have been carefully evaluated for medicinal activity. One
company, Shaman Pharmaceuticals, has used anthropological
information about healing substances to test plants for medicinal
activity. In a review of over two hundred plants that are used to
ght infectious diseases in traditional healing systems, they found
that over 60 percent showed some activity against viruses growing
in a laboratory.2 The potential for deriving unique and powerful
medicines from the vegetable kingdom is immense, but with
deforestation of our rain forests occurring at a rate of over 34,000
square miles each year, we are at continuous risk of losing valuable
and irreplaceable healing plants. For our health and the health of
our ecology, we need to regain the reverence for the plant kingdom
that was expressed in an ancient Vedic hymn:
You Herbs, born at the birth of time
More ancient than the gods themselves.
O Plants, with this hymn I sing to you
Our mothers and our gods.
The Economics of Nature
Herbal medicine has never left us, although for most of the last
generation she has been in hibernation. In the United States we
have not established a place for herbs in our therapeutic
armamentarium, so we have relegated them to the same category as
food. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires any
substance purported to have therapeutic value to go through a
safety and ecacy process that usually costs hundreds of millions of
dollars. Since most herbal products use unprocessed or minimally
processed plant material, it is essentially impossible to get an
exclusive patent on a medicinal herb. Therefore it is not nancially
feasible for a pharmaceutical company to invest the money
necessary to obtain FDA approval. The only other option has been to
label herbs as dietary supplements, which means that no specic
therapeutic claims can be made for them. This approach has led to
very little regulated or reliable information on how to use herbal
medicines safely and rationally. Unfortunately, owing to the lack of
information on herbs provided to physicians in training at Western
medical colleges, the role of herbs has remained marginal.
This does not mean that the American public has neglected
medicinal herbs. Indeed, recent estimates are that one in three
Americans spends more than fty dollars per year on herbs, adding
up to a collective value of over $3 billion in 1996.3 Just one year
later the estimate rose to over $5 billion.4 Over $90 million is spent
on Gingko biloba alone, and with recent studies conrming its
ecacy in Alzheimer’s disease, gingko’s usage will undoubtedly
expand even further.5 Reports conrming the value of St. John’s
wort for depression will surely increase its popularity above and
beyond the nearly fty million dollars spent on it in 1997.6
In Europe, unlike America, herbs have held a more acceptable
status among the mainstream medical establishment. Herbal
products stand side by side with prescription drugs in European
pharmacies and are classied as medicines. About 1,400 herbal
substances are available in the European community, with 1996
sales amounting to more than $7 billion. In the eld of herbology,
Germany stands out as the most progressive Western country, with
an estimated 30 percent of all botanical medicines prescribed by
medical doctors, and more than three out of four doctors routinely
prescribing herbs in their practice. The American Botanical Council
has recently published the English translation of the German
Commission E Monographs, which is a compilation of the medicinal
value of almost four hundred herbs.7 The commission, founded by
the German Federal Health Agency, reviewed information from
scientic and traditional sources to reach its ndings on the safety
and ecacy of these herbal products. The result of this integrative
approach is that the polarity between mainstream and alternative
medicine has diminished, and mainstream medical doctors have the
opportunity to witness the benets of herbal medicine rsthand.
Our hope is that as our collective awareness of the value of nature’s
pharmacy rises in America, our health-care system will remember
that the purpose of medicine is to relieve suering, and that this
purpose transcends all other concerns. Fortunately there are recent
signs that we are moving in this direction. A recent report in the
Journal of the American Medical Association found that almost two
out of three medical schools are now oering some type of
introductory course in complementary and alternative medicine.8 As
credible information on the value of herbal medicine becomes
available, we can hope to see a continuation of this trend and the
dissolving of the articial boundary between “orthodox/allopathic”
and “holistic/alternative.” This book is dedicated to moving us a
few steps closer to the integrated approach to life and health that, as
understood by Jivaka and King Solomon, recognizes that “to every
thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Surely there is a time and purpose for the abundant healing
resources from our herbal kingdom.
T
3
Holistically Herbal
God Almighty rst planted a garden.
—FRANCIS BACON
he relief of suering is a noble goal. In pursuit of this end,
herbal medicines can play an important role. However, we are
not proponents of herbal allopathy. One of the most frequent
complaints we hear about Western medicine is that it is too
symptom-oriented. If you have indigestion, your doctor can
prescribe an antacid or an H2 receptor blocker. For your arthritis
there’s an anti-inammatory medicine. There are laxatives for your
constipation, sleeping pills for your insomnia, and muscle relaxants
for your back strain. Most of these pharmaceuticals provide
temporary symptomatic relief, but have limited impact on the basic
cause of the illness. Mahatma Gandhi once lamented that the
problem with Western medicine is that it is too eective. A person
can eat a meal of junk food devoid of nutritional value, develop
terrible indigestion, and then take a couple of antacid tablets.
Within a few minutes the condition is relieved without the person
having to pay any consequences for his choices. The medications
short-circuit Mother Nature’s feedback loop, and as a result there is
little motivation to change behavior.
It is possible to use herbal medicines in a similar way. If your
bowels are sluggish, you can take some Cascara sagrada. For your
migraine headaches there is feverfew. Feeling a little anxious? Try
some kava. These days there are almost as many herbal approaches
to common health concerns as there are pharmacological ones. We
often see people who believe they are following a natural health-
enhancing program because they are taking a host of herbs and
nutritional supplements. Although herbs can provide value as
symptomatic medicines, they are much more powerful when used as
part of a holistic healing program. Rather than simply taking
valerian to help you sleep at night, look at the underlying issues that
are keeping you awake. Instead of automatically resorting to
amalaki or licorice for your heartburn, explore your diet and
lifestyle for areas of improvement that may make the need for an
acid-neutralizing substance unnecessary.
Years ago we heard a renowned Ayurvedic doctor say that herbs
are to healing as an inheritance is to success. If children are truly
worthy, no inheritance is necessary, because they will be capable of
generating their own success. Alternatively, if the children are
unworthy of the inheritance, no amount of money will be of much
value to them, as they are likely to squander their resources. In an
analogous way, if a person is living a balanced life, herbal medicines
provide health-promoting advantages, but if a person is not living a
balanced life, an herb alone will not be able to compensate fully for
poor diet, lack of exercise, or a toxic lifestyle. The gifts from
nature’s garden are of tremendous value, but they are not a
substitute for a life in balance. Let’s look at how we can use herbs in
conjunction with basic components of a healthy lifestyle to create
the highest level of well-being.
Eat Healthy
According to Ayurveda, food is our best medicine, for the physical
body is essentially DNA wrapped in food. What we eat and how we
eat it determines our health and vitality. Before adding herbal
supplements, look at your diet and make certain that it is balanced
and delicious. To ensure that your meals are nourishing and
appetizing, become familiar with the “Six Tastes” approach.
Everything we can ingest through our mouth can be classied
according to one or more of six primary tastes: sweet, sour, salty,
pungent, bitter, or astringent. Sweet taste characterizes foods that
are sources of carbohydrates, protein, or fat. Pasta, bread, dairy,
rice, grains, sh and meat are considered sweet. We consume the
sour taste, which is due to natural organic acids, in the form of
citrus fruits, berries, and tomatoes. Fermented foods, including
yogurt, cheese, and vinegar, are also sources of dietary sour. We get
the salty avor from table salt, soy sauce, and seafood. The pungent
taste is carried in onions, garlic, peppers, and many spices,
including black pepper, cayenne, thyme, cinnamon, basil, and
cloves. Foods with the bitter avor include green leafy vegetables,
other green and yellow vegetables, and many bitter herbs such as
cilantro, coriander, cumin, dill, and fenugreek. Most medicinal
herbs have a predominantly bitter taste. The astringent taste creates
a sensation of puckering on the mucous membranes due to the
presence of tannic acids. Beans, legumes, cranberries, pomegranate,
and green tea are common sources of the astringent taste. If all six
tastes are present at each meal, ample calories, protein, vitamins,
minerals, and natural, health-promoting plant chemicals will be
abundant in your diet.
Taste Function Common Sources
SWEET • most nutritive
• builds body tissue
sugar, honey, milk,
butter, rice, breads,
pastas, meats
(carbohydrates, fats,
proteins)
SOUR
• improves appetite
and digestion
• promotes digestion
citrus fruits, yogurt,
cheese, tomatoes,
pickles, vinegar
(organic acids)
SALTY
• mildly
laxative/sedative
• promotes digestion
salt, sauces, salted
meats and sh
(mineral salts)
PUNGENT • stimulates digestion
• clears congestion
hot peppers, salsa,
ginger, radishes,
mustard, cloves,
horseradish (essential
oils)
BITTER • anti-inammatory
• detoxifying
green leafy
vegetables, celery,
sprouts, beets, lemon
rind (alkaloids,
glycosides)
ASTRINGENT • drying
• compacts system
beans, tea, apples,
cabbage,
pomegranates,
cauliower, dark
leafy greens (tannins)
We can use herbs to ensure that all six tastes are available at each
meal. Herbs and spices add avor and help enhance our appetite
and digestion. Bitter and pungent herbs are most useful to stimulate
our digestive juices. A ginger apéritif made from equal parts fresh
ginger juice, lemon juice, and water, sweetened with a little honey,
is a delicious and potent appetite enlivener. If your appetite has
been suppressed by recent illness or emotional distress, bitter herbs
can stimulate your digestive re. The classic bitter herb is gentian, a
root used in cultures around the world for its detoxifying and
appetite-enhancing eect. Fifteen minutes before a meal, mix one-
quarter teaspoon of gentian powder with black pepper and allow it
to dissolve on your tongue before swallowing the blend. This will
start your salivary and gastric juices owing, enabling you to digest
your food more eectively.
Many culinary herbs and spices have both avor-enhancing and
digestive benets. Basil, cayenne, mustard seeds, oregano, savory,
and thyme all supply the pungent taste and strengthen digestion.
Cumin, coriander, fennel, and dill are less intense digestive
enhancers, ideal for people who need digestive stimulation but have
a tendency toward heartburn and indigestion. If you are inclined
toward gas and bloating, try adding bay leaves, cardamom,
cinnamon, cloves, mint, or nutmeg to your cooking. The balanced
use of culinary herbs and spices can transform a boring meal into a
sumptuous feast that is nourishing and digestible.
Eat Consciously
How we eat is as important as what we eat. The way we prepare and
consume a meal is as essential to its nourishing eects as its
composition of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Trying to make up for food hastily prepared and hurriedly eaten
with nutritional supplements doesn’t work. Your attention is the
most powerful healing force available to you, and eating with
awareness can transform your meals from mere refueling into a
healing experience. Try paying attention to the following ve simple
principles, and watch your quality of nourishment rise.
1. Listen to your appetite. Eat when you are really hungry and stop
when you are full. This means listening to and honoring the
signals of your body. When it is mealtime, ask yourself, “Am I
really hungry now?” If the answer is no, wait a while, observing
your appetite until you are ready to feed your digestive re.
2. Pay attention to what you are eating. Try not to be doing other
things when eating, such as watching television, talking on the
phone, driving, or working. Focusing on the sensations, sights,
avors, and smells of your food enhances your digestion and
improves your ability to extract nourishment from your meals.
3. Eat to fulll your nutritional needs. You cannot satisfy emotional
needs with food. Although you may experience temporary
calming of emotional turbulence after eating a piece of
cheesecake, the benets will be short-lived. Address your
emotional needs through self-inspection and open and honest
communication. Address your nutritional needs through healthy,
balanced, lovingly prepared meals.
4. Favor freshly prepared foods. To the greatest extent possible,
minimize your intake of canned, frozen, leftover, microwaved,
and highly processed foods. Take time to choose and prepare
vegetables, whole grains, and legumes that are rich in vital
energy. For most people, lightly cooked vegetables are easier to
digest than raw ones. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are rich
sources of nutrients and a healthy alternative to nutritionally
empty sodas.
5. Honor your mealtimes. Dene a time and space for your meals that
allow you to honor the sacred act of metabolizing the energy and
information of your environment into the substance of your body.
If you are eating in a rush, you are less likely to be discerning
about what or how much you consume. Stop eating when you are
satiated, rather than when there is nothing left on your plate.
Make certain that all six tastes are present at each meal, and you
will avoid the tendency to eat more in order to feel satiated.
Eliminate Toxicity
Everything we ingest can be evaluated in terms of whether it
provides us with nourishment or toxicity. Look at your environment
and see if there are sources of toxicity that you can reduce or
eliminate. We may not be able to control directly the concentration
of ozone in our atmosphere, but we can eliminate toxic substances
from our personal environment. We may not be able to create peace
in the Balkans, but we can improve our personal relationships
through greater understanding and tolerance. Look at your home
and work environments and see how you can transform toxicity into
nourishment. Eliminate tobacco, excessive alcohol, and drugs from
your life. Release from your heart self-destructive emotions such as
resentment, hostility, and regret. Release from your mind limiting
beliefs, including self-loathing and prejudice. In the clearing of
toxicity from your body, mind, and soul, vitality and well-being will
again ow freely.
Herbs can be very helpful in reducing physical toxicity. If you
have been overeating or indulging in unhealthy behaviors, simplify
your diet and take aloe vera juice internally in a dosage of one
ounce twice daily. Ginger tea, made from one teaspoon of grated
fresh ginger per pint of hot water, is also helpful in encouraging
your body to detoxify. If you are attempting to stop smoking, try
sucking on a natural cinnamon stick whenever you have the urge;
the sweet spiciness of cinnamon can be a natural substitute for
tobacco while satisfying your oral needs. Sucking on clove buds can
provide a similar benet. Short-term use of bitter herbs such as
goldenseal, echinacea, and neem can be helpful in clearing
congestion and toxicity after surgery, an illness, or an emotionally
and physically challenging time. Since these herbs can be depleting,
do not take them continuously for longer than two weeks at a time.
Honor Nature’s Rhythms
Nature functions in seasons, cycles, and rhythms. Every cell in our
body has an intrinsic beat of rest and activity that evolved over
millions of years of evolutionary time. Hormone levels, temperature
regulation, immune function, digestive enzymes, sleep-wake cycles,
and cellular reproduction all go through phases of rest and activity.
In this age of technology we have the possibility of ignoring our
internal biological clock and can stay up until two o’clock in the
morning, eat our meals at any hour of the day or night, and sleep
until noon. Despite our apparent freedom to disregard the rhythms
of nature, our bodies pay a toll. Our lack of resonance with the
environment contributes to insomnia, depression, concentration
problems, and digestive ailments. Most of us have had the
experience of jet lag, in which our inner clock is out of sync with
the environment in which we arrive, and we feel disoriented and
disconnected. By following a natural daily routine, we can improve
the harmony between our inner and outer rhythms. Establishing an
ideal daily routine is essential to enhancing our well-being. See if
you can shift your choices in the direction of this recommended
lifestyle pattern.
Herbs and Routine
No herb is going to force you into bed by ten o’clock, but a calming
herb can help you drift o to sleep more eortlessly. A tea made
from chamomile, valerian, hops, passionower, or the Ayurvedic
herb jatamansi can help quiet a turbulent mind and allow you to
drift from waking into the sleeping state of consciousness. Even a
cup of hot milk to which nutmeg, cardamom, or a few saron
threads are added can encourage restful sleep.
Ideal Daily Routine
Awaken around sunrise.
Empty your bowels and bladder.
Shower, brush your teeth, clean your tongue.
Meditate.
Eat breakfast if you are hungry.
———
Eat lunch at noon, preferably as your largest meal.
Take a walk after lunch.
———
Meditate before dinner.
Eat a light dinner, no later than seven o’clock.
Take a walk after dinner.
———
Have light evening activity.
Be in bed with the lights out no later than 10:30 P.M.
If you are having diculty with regular daily elimination, several
gentle herbal agents can help normalize digestion. Psyllium,
axseed, or a classical Ayurvedic formula called Triphala are bulk-
forming herbal products that enhance movement through the
digestive tract without irritating the colon or creating bowel
laziness. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and
legumes will provide natural sources of the ber that is essential to
regular elimination.
If you have diculty maintaining the energy level you need for
success and joy in your life, rst look at the basics of your daily
routine, then consider adding a tonic herb to your diet. There is a
class of Ayurvedic herbs known as rasayanas or rejuvenatives that
provide a subtle level of nourishment. The primary woman’s
rasayana is a type of wild asparagus called shatavari. The primary
men’s rasayana comes from the root of the winter cherry bush,
called ashwagandha in Sanskrit. Ginseng has an established
tradition in Asia as a rejuvenative, and is receiving growing
attention in the West. Other, more commonly known tonics include
garlic, almonds, licorice, milk, and honey. Ingesting these
nourishing substances can contribute to a healthy daily routine in
which you have energy available when you need it.
Use Your Senses
We consume the world through our ve senses. What we hear,
touch, see, taste, and smell is metabolized into the chemistry and
electricity of our body and can make the dierence between health
and sickness, life and death. Soothing, beautiful sounds can calm
colicky babies, improve the immune response of a person with AIDS,
and reduce the chance of surgical complications during an
operation. Regularly immerse yourself in natural environments
where the only sounds you hear are those of nature—the breeze
rustling through the trees, the birds warbling in the bushes, the
stream rushing over the rocks. These primordial sounds bring us
back to our centered place of healing.
Stimulating our inner pharmacy through the sense of touch has
been a feature of healing traditions around the world since the
beginning of humanity. Using botanically derived, herbalized oils
during massage can enliven the integration between mind and body.
Sesame, almond, coconut, olive, sunower, or jojoba oils to which
sandalwood, jasmine owers, neem, camphor, or ginger have been
added can be soothing or enlivening, depending upon the plant
added.
A daily self-massage is one of the simplest and most important
therapeutic approaches we can do for ourselves. Try adding this
ritual to your daily routine prior to your bath or shower, using a few
tablespoons of a natural oil, warmed above body temperature.
Visual stimuli to which we are exposed also aect our well-being.
Receiving uplifting rather than demoralizing visual input can trigger
the release of our internal healing chemicals. Just looking at a
bountiful, lush landscape can lower our blood pressure and reduce
the level of circulating stress hormones. Spend time in your garden,
hiking through the woods, or strolling in the park. Take in the sights
of nature for their balancing and healing inuence.
The fragrances of the world have a subtle yet profound eect on
our mind and body. The surging interest in aromatherapy reects
our need to reconnect with nature. Essential oils derived from
owers, fruits, herbs, and spices enable us to take nature into our
home environment. Almost any plant-based substance that can be
ingested as an herb can be extracted to produce an essential oil.
Lavender, rose, chamomile, nutmeg, and olibanum extracts are just
a few of the many essential oils that can be used to calm and soothe.
Juniper, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, and cardamom are examples
of aromatic oils that are stimulating and enlivening. Explore the
fragrances derived from the plant kingdom and create an
aromaphar-macy for yourself.
Herbs and Wholeness
We are inextricably connected to the plant kingdom. The air we
breathe and the food we eat, along with the sounds, sensations,
sights, and smells that surround us, are infused with the essence of
plants. We encourage you to consider your relationship with herbs
as more than alternative medicines that you take for the inevitable
uncomfortable symptoms of life. Rather, use your botanical friends
to remind you about gaining and maintaining balance in life,
through what you eat, the rhythms of your day, and your sensory
experiences. We can use the herbal kingdom to point us in the
direction of health, which, in essence, is a state of wholeness.
Performing an Oil Massage
Pour a tablespoon of warm oil on your scalp, massaging the
oil in vigorously. Cover your entire scalp with small circular
strokes, as if you were shampooing. Move to your face and
ears, massaging more gently. Apply a little oil to your hands
and massage your neck, front and back, then your shoulders.
Vigorously massage your arms, using a circular motion at the
shoulders and elbows and long back-and-forth motions on the
long parts. Using large, gentle, circular motions, massage your
chest, stomach, and lower abdomen. A straight up-and-down
motion is used over the breastbone. Apply a bit of oil to your
hands and reach around without straining to massage your
back and spine, using up-and-down motions.
Vigorously massage your legs as you did your arms, in a
circular motion at the ankles and knees, straight back and forth
on the long parts. With the remaining oil, vigorously massage
your feet, with attention to the soles and toes.
Washing o the oil: Keeping a thin, almost undetectable lm
of oil on the body is considered benecial for toning the skin
and keeping the muscles warm during the day. Therefore, wash
yourself with warm, not hot, water and mild soap.
T
4
Science-of-Life Herbology
Drugs which have been observed to be ecacious from time
immemorial should alone be used in the course of a medical
treatment.
—SUSHRUTA SAMHITA
he timeless wisdom of Ayurveda provides the framework for
our healing programs at the Chopra Center for Well Being. The
name itself expresses its all-encompassing domain. Ayur means “life”
in Sanskrit, and veda means “knowledge.” Ayurveda, then, is the
knowledge or science of life. As an oral tradition passed down from
generation to generation, Ayurveda has its roots in the mists of
antiquity. As a codied body of wisdom, two major schools of
Ayurvedic medicine are acknowledged. The Charaka school
resembled our modern discipline of internal medicine, with a
primary focus on the prevention and treatment of chronic disorders.
Charaka strongly emphasized the importance of mind-body
interactions in the promotion of health. The Sushruta school had a
greater focus on the treatment of acute diseases, which included the
development of many surgical procedures. Although there is
ongoing debate concerning which sage lived earlier, most medical
historians date Charaka and Sushruta to about the fourth or fth
century B.C. Considering how much we have learned about health
and sickness over the past several millennia, it is remarkable how
many of the ancient principles of Ayurveda remain relevant today.
According to Ayurveda, life is the harmonious interweaving of our
environment, body, senses, mind, and spirit. Illness results when
there is a loss of balance and integration between these layers. To
establish and maintain good health, we need to understand our
natural state of health and identify the tendencies that take us away
from our optimal state of balance. One of the most important
contributions of Ayurveda is the recognition that each of us
metabolizes the energy and information of the environment in a
unique way. The better we understand our intrinsic nature and how
our environment inuences our state of being, the better we can
make choices to optimize our health.
Our inner and outer environments are organized according to ve
primary elements, described in Ayurveda as space, air, re, water,
and earth. Each of these principles represents a primary force that
can be applied to the physical inanimate world, our living biology,
and the workings of our mind. Let’s explore these principles in more
detail.
The rst element, space, represents the potentiality principle from
which all possible expressions of nature arise. Ultimately, the silent
emptiness of space is the source of all the other elements. Although
it is beyond the perception of the senses, space is the media in
which all sensory experiences arise. In the language of modern
physics, space is the unied eld in which all the known forces of
nature are expressed.
Space gives rise to the second element, air, which represents the
movement principle that governs the motions of galaxies, the
transport of biochemicals and the activity of subatomic particles.
When the movement force ows smoothly within living systems,
energy and information circulate freely, supporting healing and
evolution.
The third element, re, is the principle of transformation and
metabolism. Nuclear reactions in stars are governed by this element,
as is energy production in cells. This force regulates metabolism in
the body and must be at an optimal level of functioning in order to
accomplish its mission of energy production. As with a nuclear
power plant or a re in your replace, there is an ideal level of
activity that allows the energy to be harnessed eciently. Too much
or too little re can have harmful consequences.
The fourth element, water, represents the forces of attraction and
cohesion. The gravitational pull between planets, the cohesive forces
in a molecule, and the attraction of sweethearts in love are all
manifestations of the water principle. Within biological systems,
water is the stock of the living soup in which the chemistry of the
body brews.
Finally, the earth principle is expressed as the matter of the
physical universe. Modern physicists assure us that despite the
appearance of solidity that our senses provide, all matter is
ultimately nonmaterial, composed of condensed energy. Still, the
planets, rocks, trees, bodies, organs, cells, and organelles that make
up the stu of everyday life do exist and are governed by the earth
principle.
The Elements of Plants
The ve primary forces come together in all life forms, where they
are organized into cells, tissues, organs, and organisms. Health
results from the harmonious interaction of all the forces and
elements in our mind and body. Illness is a loss of this delicate
equilibrium. When we experience an imbalance in our physiology,
we can use the resources of our environment to reestablish harmony
and balance.
Plants are elegant expressions of the primary elements, for all ve
forces are represented. They extract the elements from the earth and
are our primary source of minerals and trace metals. Fortunately,
plants have learned how to digest the earth so we don’t have to eat
dirt to get our daily helping of minerals. There are unique
relationships between botany and geology, with certain plants
having a special anity for specic elements. Wild buckwheat likes
to grow where there is an abundance of silver in the ground, wild
poppy has an appetite for copper, and horsetail seems to prefer gold.
The ability of plants to concentrate molecules of matter provides us
with essential elements in forms that are digestible and absorbable.
Certain herbs are inherently more grounding, carrying within them
an abundance of the earth element. Examples of these heavier,
denser herbs derived from roots include ashwagandha,
marshmallow, shatavari, and lotus.
Plants have evolved elaborate systems to integrate the water
element into their structure. From roots to leaves, from cacti to
melons, water is an essential component of our botanical friends.
Plants are abundant sources of moisture for animals, and are
providers of many water-soluble healing chemicals. Although we
consume an abundance of water when we eat fresh fruits and
vegetables, most medicinal herbs are dried before we ingest them.
Assuming this dehydration is performed with care, the extraction of
water stops the metabolism of the plant but leaves the active
chemicals to be released when we consume them. Medicinal herbs
that are naturally rich in the water element include amalaki, aloe
vera, slippery elm, and licorice.
The re element is captured by plants through the process of
photosynthesis, which converts solar energy into carbohydrates.
When we consume plants and herbs, we liberate that energy for our
benet. Without this trapping of light by our botanical friends, we
could not exist. Many herbs concentrate re, an activity expressed
in their pungency. Ginger, black pepper, cayenne, thyme, cloves,
and cinnamon are ery herbs that generate heat in the body when
we consume them and can be used to kindle a weak digestive re.
From an animal perspective, the air element is one of the prime
reasons for the existence of plants. Plants are the lungs of our living
planet, generating our oxygen and trapping our carbon dioxide
waste gases. Many aromatic herbs, including the mints, fennel,
camphor, cinnamon, rosemary, and jasmine, can be used
therapeutically to improve respiratory function.
Certain herbs have unique eects on the nervous system that can
be seen as expressing the element of space. These tend to be
consciousness-altering or hallucinogenic substances that have the
eect of temporarily expanding the mind. Because substances such
as peyote, datura, marijuana, psilocybin, and ayuhausca are
potentially dangerous and illegal in most countries, we won’t be
exploring them further in this book. Other, safer herbs that
inuence the mind, such as Gingko biloba and gotu kola, will be
explored.
The Elements of Humans
As creatures of the universe, we, too, are composed of the ve
primary elements. According to Ayurveda, the ve primary forces
can be reduced in human beings to three primary principles that
govern our bodies and minds. The rst principle, known as Vata in
Sanskrit, is responsible for all movement within the physiology.
Composed of a mixture of space and air, the motion principle
regulates the movement of thought, muscles, circulation, digestion,
and elimination. When the movement principle becomes aggravated
or excessive, we experience anxiety, insomnia, tremor, palpitations,
gaseousness, and constipation. We can settle the movement
principle through grounding and calming behaviors, foods, and
herbs.
The second mind-body principle, called Pitta in Sanskrit, is
composed of the re and water elements. Acting as a chemical re,
this principle is responsible for digestion and metabolism of matter
or information we ingest from the environment. When the re
principle is aggravated, we experience heartburn, inammation,
skin rashes, hot ashes, and irritability. Herbs that have a cooling,
soothing inuence are useful in pacifying Pitta-aggravated
conditions.
The third principle is Kapha, composed of the earth and water
elements. Kapha is responsible for maintaining the structure and
lubrication of our physiology. When it accumulates excessively, we
experience retention and congestion. Sinus problems, weight gain,
diabetes, excessive sleepiness, and uid retention are manifestations
of too much earth and water in the system. Herbs that have light,
heating, and aromatic qualities are benecial in the treatment of
Kapha disorders.
According to the Ayurvedic framework, three issues need to be
considered when approaching a health concern: the rst is the
nature of the illness, the second is the nature of the intervention,
and the third is the nature of the person who has the health
problem. Although in Western medicine once we diagnose a disease,
we tend to treat it similarly in every person, this is not the case in
many natural health care systems. As physicians, we may
collectively label as migraines, headaches characterized by sharp
pains that disturb sleep, those with burning pain that cause
irritability, and those associated with a sense of congestion and
nausea. From an Ayurvedic perspective, however, they reect
dierent imbalances and require dierent interventions.
Knowing the qualities of an herb is essential if we are to use it
eectively. You don’t want to take a depleting herb if your system is
already run down, nor would you add predominantly pungent herbs
to your diet if you were regularly overheating or having hot ashes.
We’ll discuss the useful dening characteristics of herbs a little later
in this chapter.
Understanding the person who has the illness is as important as
understanding the illness that has the person. People who naturally
have more of one element in their nature will experience dierent
manifestations of an imbalance or illness from someone who has a
natural predominance of another element. They will also respond
dierently to treatment. Although medical doctors experience this
phenomenon every day, we were not taught to ask, “Why did one
patient have a good response to the medication, whereas another
patient with similar symptoms had a very negative reaction?”
Knowing more about a person’s mind-body constitution can help
personalize treatments.
If you have not identied the predominant mind-body principles
in your nature, complete the following brief survey. Understanding
the proportion of elements in your physiology can help you choose
healing interventions that are most suited for you. For those who
are interested, a more in-depth discussion of constitutional typing is
available in our earlier books, Perfect Health, The Wisdom of Healing,
and Vital Energy.
Mind-Body Principles
For each of the twelve traits listed below, see if you can identify one
characteristic pattern that best applies to you. If you believe that
two choices are equally applicable, you may circle both. Total your
scores for each column to learn the relative proportion of the three
principles in your nature.
Interpreting Your Scores
Rank your tallies for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha from the highest to the
lowest number. The highest score usually identies the principle
that is predominant in your mind-body nature. If the largest number
is four or more points greater than the next principle, you can say
that that principle is dominant in your physiology. For example, if
your scores were Vata = 10, Pitta = 5 and Kapha = 3, Ayurveda
would characterize your nature as having the greatest abundance of
Vata, with less prominence of Pitta and Kapha. If your two highest
scores are within three points of each other, then your inherent
mind-body nature predominantly reects the two top principles,
with the third less represented. For example, if your scores were
Vata = 4, Pitta = 8 and Kapha = 9, then you would be classied
as Kapha/Pitta with Vata less prominent. Most people will have two
principles within a few points of each other, with the third less
represented. The rarest constitutional type is when all three
principles are closely clustered. An example of this pattern would be
Vata = 7, Pitta = 6 and Kapha = 5. People with this pattern are
generally more tolerant of a wider range of foods, climates, and
sensory experiences.
As you learn about the therapeutic eects of specic herbs, pay
some attention to the inuence they have on Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
If you have identied Pitta as the predominant energy in your
nature, you may want to be cautious when ingesting an herb that
has the tendency to aggravate Pitta. This additional level of
understanding can be very helpful in eectively using herbal
medicines.
Herbal Energetics
Herbs can inuence mind and body in dierent ways. According to
Ayurveda, the three primary levels that must be understood to
maximize the value of an herbal medicine are (1) the proportion of
elements as carried in the taste of the herb; (2) the heating or
cooling potency of the herb; and (3) the special medicinal qualities
that the herb possesses. As an example, nutmeg has a spicy, pungent
taste. In Ayurvedic theory, the pungent taste is composed of the air
and re elements; therefore, taking nutmeg will add to the quantity
of these elements in the system. It has a heating potency, and will
therefore tend to increase the temperature and metabolic activity of
the body. What we could not predict on the basis of its taste or
potency is its sedative eect on the nervous system, which makes it
an eective sleeping aid when taken in warm milk. Knowing its
other qualities, however, you would use nutmeg more cautiously if
you were feeling overheated or irritable.
Symptom-oriented herbology does not take into account the
nature of the person or illness. The overall eect of echinacea may
not be benecial in persons who have a predominance of Vata in
their nature, particularly if their susceptibility to colds is triggered
by poor nutrition and sleep/wake cycles. The use of ginger for
morning sickness in a woman with high Pitta may increase her
irritability. Before you take any herbal supplement, we recommend
that you ask yourself the following questions:
Tastes and Elements
Taste Elements
sweet earth and water
sour earth and re
salty water and re
pungent re and air
bitter air and space
astringent air and earth
1. What are the predominant qualities of the problem I am
attempting to resolve? For example, if I have a lingering cough, is
it dry or wet, scratchy or thick, cold or hot?
2. What are the predicted qualities of the herb, and what are its
special qualities that may benet my condition? For example, is
the herb drying, moistening, purifying, or heating? Does it possess
a specic anti-infectious quality that may help clear up a lingering
bronchitis?
3. Knowing my predominant mind-body principles, are there any
special precautions I should exercise? For example, if I am
experiencing Vata aggravation, evidenced by anxiety, insomnia,
and constipation, could this herb taken for my cough worsen my
mental and physical turbulence?
Considering the greater context in which an herb is used honors
its potency and enhances the prospect that the herb will have the
desired eect on your well-being. Remember that herbs are gifts
from nature and as such are deserving of our appreciation and
respect. Ask from them what they are capable of providing and use
them with discrimination. Keep in mind the wise words of Sushruta,
one of the great Ayurvedic sages, who eloquently expressed the
essence of eective medicines: “A medicine, too strong for the
disease it has been applied to combat, not only checks it but may
give rise to a fresh malady, because its surplus energy is not used up
by the weakened and conquered distemper.… On the other hand,
medicines of inadequate potencies, unequal to the strength of a
disease, fail to produce any tangible eect. Therefore, only
medicines of appropriate power should be administered.”1
Appropriately applying the power of herbs allows us to tap into
the healing power of nature. Great healers across time and space
have understood that health is a state of dynamic balance and that
nature is the supreme healer. The Upanishads describe our
relationship to the elements and forces around us in this simple
description of evolution:
“From consciousness arose space—from space, air—from air, re
—from re, water—from water, earth—from earth, plants—from
plants, food—from food, man.”
Our botanical friends can help us regain and maintain the
harmony we seek with nature and for this gift, we owe our deepest
gratitude.
A
5
Restoring Balance, Creating Health
Rejoice plants, bearing abundant owers and fruit, triumphing
together over disease like victorious horses, sprouting forth,
bearing humanity safe beyond disease.
—RIG VEDA
ccording to Ayurveda, every illness progresses through stages
of development before it becomes apparent. Even a simple cold
does not spontaneously arise. The nasty viruses that cause the
sneezing, congestion, and misery of an upper-respiratory infection
incubate for days, hiding from and then overriding our immune
defenses before lling our heads with phlegm. Other chronic
diseases such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer generally take
years before they are fully entrenched and declare themselves with
signs and symptoms.
Ayurveda describes the development of disease as moving
through progressive stages of imbalance until the normal
homeostatic mechanisms of our body are incapable of reestablishing
equilibrium. If we accept this principle, the earlier we intervene
therapeutically, the more likely we are to see a benet. This is
particularly true in the use of herbal medicines. Herbs can play an
important role in helping to reestablish balance and are particularly
eective if the illness has not fully manifested as abnormalities on
blood tests or X-rays. The use of herbs in digestive disturbances,
anxiety, insomnia, depression, fatigue, menstrual and menopausal
discomforts, weight control, and chronic pain syndromes can be
very rewarding. In these conditions, we think of herbal medicines as
supplying a subtle form of nourishment to help replenish and restore
physiological systems. When we recommend an herb for a patient
with cancer, it is with the intention to reduce toxicity and
strengthen immunity. If we suggest an herb for a woman going
through menopause, it is to help restore balance during a time of
physiological and emotional transition. Although herbs can
eectively address specic symptoms and diseases, they are
particularly helpful in strengthening the person with the problem,
rather than solely as an attack on the problem itself. This approach
derives from the model that disease is the absence of health, rather
than health as the absence of disease. In this spirit let’s explore
various categories of illness and the role that herbs can play in
reducing the distress and suering that attend these problems.
Herbs for Digestion
Essential to health and well-being is our ability to digest packets of
energy and information we derive from the environment and
eciently transform them into the energy and substance of our
body. In Ayurveda, the body is known as anna maya kosha, which
means the layer composed of food. Basically, our body is composed
of molecules derived from food and directed by our DNA into the
appropriate sites. Amino acids from the protein in the milk you had
for breakfast may now be serving as a molecular girder in your
biceps muscle. The sugar molecule carried in the tortilla you had for
lunch may be providing energy to a nerve cell in your brain. The
next time you consume a fruit salad, consider how the
carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and
phytochemicals are being absorbed in your digestive tract and
distributed to the cells and tissues throughout your body. When the
processes of digestion, absorption, and elimination are occurring
optimally, we take in the nutrition we require and eliminate the
waste we don’t need. Each stage of the nutritional process—the
initial digestion of food in the mouth and stomach, the absorption of
nutrients in the small intestines, and the elimination of waste from
the colon—must be healthy for us to be healthy. And we can use
herbs to enhance each phase of the digestive process.
STAGE 1. APPETITE AND DIGESTION
Appetite and digestion are closely linked and reect the quality of
our digestive re, known as agni in Ayurveda. When our digestive
re is strong, we are able to break down the food we ingest into its
basic elements, allowing for the appropriate sorting of components
into those that are nourishing and those that are best eliminated.
People can have problems with either too little or too much
digestive re, resulting in delicate digestion on the one hand and
heartburn or acid indigestion on the other. Herbs to stimulate the
digestive re are generally spicy in nature and best taken
immediately prior to or with a meal. Ginger, black pepper, cayenne,
celery seeds, and long pepper contain essential oils that have eects
at several levels of the digestive process. Studies from Germany, for
example, have suggested that ginger stimulates the ow of salivary
enzymes, activates stomach activity, and contains enzymes that help
digest proteins.1
Bitter herbs can also enhance the rst stage of digestion by way of
a neural reex between the tongue and our gastric stimulation
center in the brain stem. The classical bitter digestive tonic is
gentian, which enhances stomach emptying and stimulates the
secretion of enzymes by the stomach, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Other bitter herbs that are useful in small quantities to stimulate
appetite and digestion include golden seal, aloe vera, and
chamomile.
On the other end of the spectrum are those conditions in which
there is excessive digestive re. Hyperacidity, heartburn,
gastroesophageal reux, and peptic ulcers are expressions of an
inecient digestive re that is imbalanced in both location and
quantity. Cooling herbs that pacify the excessive heat and encourage
a cleaner digestive re can help reduce heartburn and improve
digestion. These include cumin, coriander, fennel, and licorice as
well as the Ayurvedic herbs amalaki and shatavari. They are
generally taken after a meal or when the symptoms of acid
indigestion are prominent.
STAGE 2. ABSORPTION AND TRANSIT
Once food leaves the stomach and enters into the intestines, our
body is involved in the process of digesting and absorbing the
essential nutrients required for meeting the energy and molecular
needs of the body. Problems with this phase of digestion result in
gas, bloating, and heaviness after a meal. People with assimilation
diculties often report that even though they are eating healthy
foods, they do not feel they are being adequately nourished.
Herbs that assist with this phase help coordinate the movement of
food through the intestines. Nutmeg, chamomile, peppermint, and
lemon verbena are herbs traditionally used to reduce abdominal
spasms and bloating. Cinnamon, cardamom, and bay are known as
the “three carminatives” in Ayurveda, meaning that they help dispel
congested intestinal gas. In people who are sensitive to dairy
products but may not have an actual lactase deciency, warming
milk with cinnamon, cardamom, or nutmeg can often improve their
tolerance. Other culinary herbs useful in reducing bloating include
basil, oregano, thyme, coriander, cumin, dill, and fennel. Ayurvedic
herbs useful in reducing gas that are not as well known in the West
include wild celery seeds, nutgrass, and long pepper. If you are
among the many people who experience bloating after eating beans
or legumes, cooking with asafetida can improve digestive ability.
STAGE 3. ELIMINATION
Although we were taught in medical school that daily bowel
movements were not required for good health, most people feel
better if they are eliminating regularly. A ber-rich diet, with plenty
of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is the most important
contributor to daily elimination. When necessary, adding ber in
the form of psyllium or axseed can invigorate sluggish bowels. A
classic Ayurvedic formula called triphala consists of three fruits—
amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. Like psyllium, the ber in triphala
can help enhance elimination in people whose bowels are slow, and
normalize bowel movements in people who tend toward loose
stools.
Only rarely should an herbal stimulant cathartic be used. Castor
oil, cascara sagrada, senna, and aloe are the most common plant-
based laxatives that act by stimulating the nerve bers to the colon
and by causing the accumulation of salts and water in the intestines.
These laxatives can cause abdominal cramping, with cascara the
mildest and castor the strongest. The main problem with repeated
use of these herbal stimulants is that the bowel gets lazier the more
they are used. People who resort to them regularly often become
trapped in a dependency cycle and cannot evacuate without the
herbs. Usually, diet, exercise, and bulk-forming herbal remedies are
sucient to keep the bowels moving without resorting to stimulant
cathartics. Good food is preferable to good medicines.
Herbs for the Mind and Emotions
Emotional ups and downs are a part of life. Many people go through
periods when they are feeling enthusiastic and other times when the
challenges of life feel overwhelming. Episodes of worry, anxiety,
insomnia, and sadness aect people at all ages. Usually, with the
passage of time, the wheel of life turns and uncomfortable emotions
transform into more comfortable ones. But occasionally, distressing
feelings persist, seeming to take on a life of their own, interfering
with relationships and daily activities. When the emotional
challenge is bothersome but not disabling, a trial of an herbal aid
may provide needed support while the underlying life issue unfolds.
In cases of mild anxiety, insomnia, and melancholy, herbs may
provide sucient relief to avoid the need for prescription
medication. If you are in more severe emotional distress, however,
we strongly encourage you to seek professional assistance and use
all the resources of modern medicine available to get you through
your dicult time.
Herbs that may be of value in supporting emotional balance can
be classied into two categories, calming and enlivening. Calming
herbs are benecial when the mind is overly turbulent, generating
worry and anxiety during the day and insomnia at night. Enlivening
herbs can be helpful when fatigue and depression are clouding
access to your inner source of energy. Modern science is just
beginning to assess seriously the value of herbs to soothe and
invigorate the mind and emotions.
CALMING HERBS
There is a long history of herbal approaches for soothing emotional
turbulence. One of the best-known calming herbs is valerian root,
used since the time of the Roman Empire. Studies have conrmed
valerian’s sedative properties, although its active components have
yet to be conclusively identied. Hops, another valuable relaxing
herb, has been prescribed to encourage sound sleep and pacify
mental restlessness since the Middle Ages. A sachet of hops is
traditionally placed under a child’s pillow to deliver sleep-inducing
aromatherapy. Another plant, passionower has been shown to have
calming activity in animals and is widely used in European herbal
sedative formulas. Rapidly gaining in popularity as a natural
sedative is kava kava, an important herb of the Pacic Islands,
where it has been used in rituals and ceremonies for thousands of
years. Studies have conrmed that kava possesses measurable anti-
anxiety eects, possibly acting through mechanisms similar to the
tranquilizing drug Valium.2
The Ayurvedic herbal pharmacy oers a number of herbs
traditionally used to support emotional balance. Ayurveda
distinguishes emotional distress according to which element is most
imbalanced. If a person is having excessive mental turbulence with
stressful, anxious thoughts, a Wind-pacifying herb such as jatamansi
is favored. If irritability and anger are creating distress, cooling
herbs such as brahmi or gotu kola are prescribed. When there is
excessive accumulation of toxic, morbid emotions, purifying herbs
such as sage or guggulu are recommended. Considering the subtler
qualities of an emotional symptom can help ne-tune a therapeutic
choice.
The Western herb St. John’s wort is one of the most popular
natural remedies in Europe for the treatment of depression and is
currently receiving widespread interest in the United States as well.
Several studies have attested to its ecacy in the treatment of mild
to moderate depression.3 Although it takes longer to act than most
pharmaceutical antidepressant drugs, its safety prole makes it an
attractive natural mood booster.
HERBS TO ENHANCE MENTAL PERFORMANCE
All of us would like to maintain optimal mental performance
throughout our lifetime. Herbs purported to enhance mental
function have been a part of the lore of healing traditions for
thousands of years. Ginseng, gotu kola, brahmi, and ginkgo are
among the best-known botanicals that have been promoted to
improve memory and cognitive function. Traditional texts extol the
virtues of these mind-enhancing herbs, although it has been
challenging for science to convincingly document the benets of
many of these plants. The notable exception has been ginkgo, which
has been the subject of several studies conrming its memory-
improving potential in both animals and humans. Ginkgo is a potent
antioxidant, but its demonstrated value in slowing the progression
of Alzheimer’s disease almost certainly involves other mechanisms.
An interesting recent animal study from Germany demonstrated that
a combination of ginkgo and ginger could reduce anxiety without
impairing memory, unlike pharmaceutical agents such as Valium,
which characteristically sacrice memory for their sedative eects.4
It is obvious that there is a treasure chest of untapped herbs for the
mind and emotions that are calling for scientic exploration. The
next century may become the era of rediscovering nature’s
pharmacy.
Herbs to Enhance Women’s Health
Women have traditionally used nature’s botanical gifts during times
of transition in their reproductive cycles—to relieve premenstrual
distress, to provide support during pregnancy and labor, and to ease
the symptoms of menopause. Often the same herbs are used
throughout a woman’s life and are classied as “female tonics.”
Black cohosh from America, chaste-tree berries from the
Mediterranean region, and dong quai from China are the best-
known herbs used to balance the female reproductive system.
Although their precise mechanisms are not fully understood, there is
scientic evidence that these traditional medicines work.
One of the most popular women’s herbs is black cohosh, prized by
Native American woman for use during both reproductive and
menopausal years. Studies have suggested that black cohosh can
alleviate menopausal symptoms, although it is unclear exactly how
it acts. Another popular botanical, vitex agnuscastus, comes from
the berries of the chaste tree, once believed to inhibit sexual desire.
Tinctures and tablets of this plant have traditionally been used to
regulate menstrual periods as well as to relieve breast tenderness. In
addition to its role in premenstrual symptoms, chaste tree is widely
recommended to reduce uncomfortable symptoms in menopause,
although scientic research in this realm is limited.
Although not as well known in the West, Ayurvedic herbs have a
long history in support of a woman’s physiology. Shatavari, or
Indian asparagus, is the primary Ayurvedic female tonic used in
India during both reproductive and postmenopausal years. There is
some evidence that shatavari reduces uterine irritability, which may
account for its reported benet in premenstrual syndrome. From an
energetic standpoint, most Ayurvedic women’s herbs have cooling,
soothing eects and are believed to pacify accumulated heat that
causes the irritability of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and the hot
ashes associated with menopause. The juice of the aloe vera plant
is another traditional Ayurvedic female tonic. Considered a cooling
blood purier, it is commonly used to alleviate the symptoms of
PMS and menopause. Although there is considerable scientic
research on its wound-healing value, aloe vera’s impact on women’s
health has not yet been investigated by Western medicine.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), dong quai has been used
for thousands of years in the support of women’s health, treating
symptoms from menstrual cramping to menopausal hot ashes.
Reports from China have highlighted the antioxidant and
phytoestrogenic properties of dong quai, but a recent study from
California failed to conrm a measurable estrogenic eect in
menopausal women.5 Further research will be necessary to see if
scientic explanations for the traditional claims of women’s tonics
can be uncovered.
Herbs to Balance Metabolism
Obesity, with its many potential medical complications, is a serious
problem in the Western world. More than one-third of Americans
are overweight, a substantial increase from just ten years ago. It is
natural that someone trying to lose weight would hope that a simple
substance could make the process eortless. Unfortunately, this
magical commodity has not yet been discovered. Balanced nutrition
and regular physical activity remain the cornerstones of an eective
weight-loss program.
Herbs with stimulant properties have been used to reduce the
appetite and increase the metabolism. The Chinese herb ma huang,
which contains the chemical ephedrine, can cause elevated blood
pressure, rapid heart rate, and anxiety. When used in a carefully
controlled fashion, ephedrine can be helpful in treating the
symptoms of allergies and asthma, but the use of this chemical,
either naturally or synthetically derived, is not warranted for weight
loss. An Indian herb, Garcinia cambogia, the source of a chemical
hydroxycitric acid, has been suggested to be an eective weight loss
agent. However, the only placebo-controlled study to look at this
herbal agent failed to conrm its ecacy.6
Since we are unlikely to discover an herb that magically
suppresses the appetite or melts away fat, how can we use herbs in
support of healthy metabolism? From an Ayurvedic perspective,
weight gain represents a Kapha or Earth imbalance. Herbs that
create lightness and heat help reduce excessive accumulation of
body mass. In Ayurveda, there is a classical formula that includes
three herbs to enhance the rst phase of digestion, three to enhance
tissue metabolism, three to foster elimination, and one to clear the
blood.
Trikatu means “the three pungent spices.” They have a heating
eect on the system and enhance appetite and the digestive process.
Although people with weight problems often perceive their appetite
as a devouring enemy, being in tune with your appetite is the best
way to ensure that you eat when you need to and stop when you
don’t. The three heating herbs that make up Trimada are not well
known in the West and have not been rigorously researched. They
share heating properties and are traditionally considered to help
metabolize stored fat. Triphala has been discussed previously as a
bowel tonic to encourage balanced elimination. Guggulu, derived
from the resin of a plant that is a cousin to myrrh, has been shown
to eectively lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Ayurvedic Metabolism Formula
Herbs to Enhance Digestion
TRIKATU
(black pepper, long pepper, dry ginger)
———
Herbs to Enhance Tissue Metabolism
TRIMADA
(chitrak, vidanga, musta)
———
Herbs to Foster Elimination
TRIPHALA
(amalaki, bibhitaki, haritaki)
———
Blood-Clearing Herb
guggulu
If you are trying to lose weight, our recommendation is to use
herbs and spices to create meals that are delicious and balanced in
the six tastes. This will ensure that you are not overeating because
you are craving a taste, even though you have had enough food
volume. Use herbs to kindle your digestive re, enhance your
metabolism, and encourage regular elimination. Practice conscious
eating techniques and strive to fulll your emotional needs with
loving, nurturing relationships rather than with food. Herbs can be
valuable allies in a weight-loss program, but cannot substitute for
healthy eating, regular exercise, and love.
Herbs to Enhance Men’s Health
Sexual potency and concerns about prostate gland function are the
two major areas in which herbal medicines have been promoted for
the benet of men’s health. Throughout the ages, men have sought a
magic elixir to maintain or regain the potency of youth. In Ayurveda
we have a category of herbs known as vajikarana, which are
characterized in an understated manner as “producing a long
lineage of progeny, providing quick sexual stimulation, enabling one
to perform sexually with women uninterruptedly and vigorously like
a horse, making one charming for women, promoting corpulence,
and infallible and indestructible semen even in older persons,
rendering one great, having a number of ospring like a sacred tree,
branched profusely and commanding respect and popularity in
society.”7
Herbs such as amalaki and ashwagandha are reputed to provide
these potent qualities. Like ginseng in China and Korea, these
Ayurvedic herbs have powerful reputations that have thus far been
dicult to characterize scientically. Amalaki has potent
antioxidant qualities, as does ashwagandha, but it is unclear how
these properties inuence male potency. Of interest is a recent
Korean study of ginseng that suggests this ancient herb may work
through a nitric oxide pathway, similar to the mechanism by which
the recently fashionable Viagra works.8 Studies are in progress
around the world in attempts to characterize the ecacy and means
of action of these traditional herbal medicines.
Yohimbine is a minor herbal medicine used to treat diculties
with erection. Derived from the bark of an African tree, Pausinystalia
yohimbe, this chemical blocks the eects of nerves that constrict
blood vessels. Although several studies have shown yohimbine to be
mildly to moderately eective, it can cause anxiety, sweating, and
nausea and should therefore be used with caution.
HERBS FOR THE PROSTATE
Enlargement of the prostate is one of the most common health
concerns of men. By age fty, almost half of all men will have
microscopic evidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and by
age eighty, almost 90 percent will show changes. A swollen prostate
can cause diculties with urination in many ways: it can make it
dicult to start urinating, create problems with complete emptying,
make it necessary to get up several times during the night, and
predispose to bladder infections. Up to 25 percent of men may
eventually require some form of surgery to help improve urinary
ow. A number of new medicines are eective in treating the
symptoms of BPH, but their side eects and expense are sometimes
limiting. Herbal alternatives may play a cost-eective role in mild
prostate enlargement, but every man should have an evaluation
from a qualied physician before starting an herbal remedy to be
certain that the symptoms are due to benign prostate enlargement
and not prostate cancer.
The documented benets of saw palmetto berry have transformed
this Native American plant from a weed to a cash crop. A number of
studies have conrmed its value in reducing the symptoms of
prostate enlargement without serious side eects.9 A lesser-known
botanical medicine, Pygeum africanum, has also been shown to have
measurable benet on the symptoms of BPH, with improvement
seen in both subjective and objective aspects of urination.
Ayurveda oers a number of substances to improve urinary ow
in men. Purnanarva, gokshura, and shilajit each have a long history
of usage, but none have been scientically researched for the
treatment of BPH. Studies on shilajit have demonstrated anti-
inammatory activity, but whether this has any impact on the
prostate is uncertain. Used to alleviate painful urination, these
substances have mild diuretic eects. In view of their long-
established traditional usage, they deserve formal scientic study.
Herbs to Alleviate Pain, Arthritis, and Inammation
As long as human beings have been in motion, they have
experienced musculoskeletal aches and discomforts. Consequently,
traditional healing systems around the world have sought and
identied botanical substances to relieve pain. Our most potent
narcotic pain relievers are derived from the juice of the poppy, a
plant well known to the ancient Sumerians over ve thousand years
ago. The bark of the willow tree is the original source of salicylates,
the basis of aspirin. Although a multitude of eective nonsteroidal
anti-inammatory medicines are available today, natural
alternatives continue to gain in popularity.
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates are widely used in
degenerative arthritis. Although they are not herbal products, they
are mentioned here because they are currently among the most
commonly used “natural” arthritis medicines. Controversy as to
their ecacy abounds, but recent reviews have suggested that they
do reduce pain and may slow or stabilize joint deterioration.10
Massaging the skin with herbalized oils has been used to reduce
tissue pain for thousands of years. Oil from the winter-green shrub,
menthol from mint, camphor from the camphor tree, and capsaicin
cream from chili peppers are rubbed over a sore joint or muscle to
increase blood supply and reduce pain. Capsaicin, which depletes
nerve endings of the neurotransmitter known as substance P,
reduces the transmission of painful impulses. It has been useful in
painful conditions ranging from diabetes to osteoarthritis.
Internally, many common herbs and spices have measurable anti-
inammatory eects, although their clinical relevance remains to be
fully dened. Turmeric, basil, rosemary, thyme, and chamomile are
a few of the many culinary herbs and spices that can cool
inammation.
Frankincense and myrrh, gifts of the Three Wise Men to the Christ
Child, are closely related to two Ayurvedic herbs used in the
treatment of arthritis. An extract of Boswellia serrata, a close cousin
to frankincense, has shown anti-inammatory activity in both
animals and people. Guggulu, the resin from Commiphora mukul, is
in the same family as myrrh (Commiphora molmol). A number of
recent studies attest to the long-standing reputation of guggulu as an
eective anti-inammatory agent.11
Finally, feverfew, an herb used for over two thousand years to
treat headaches, is eective in the treatment of migraines and
arthritis. Phytochemicals in this daisylike plant inhibit inammation
and muscle spasm. New users of feverfew should be cautious, as
allergic reactions to this herbal medicine are not rare.
Herbs can be helpful in reducing the discomfort of chronic
discomforts, but it is important to remember that pain is a symptom
of some underlying dysfunction or imbalance. If a part of your body
continues to call for attention, please have a competent health-care
provider evaluate your symptoms to be certain that you are not
ignoring an underlying illness that requires more-specic treatment.
Herbs to Enhance Immunity
Like animals, plants face challenges from their environment.
Bacteria, viruses, and fungi seek the energy and nutrition that plants
capture, just as animals do, and plants have evolved sophisticated
defense mechanisms to protect themselves from hostile creatures.
We may gain some immunologic advantage by eating certain herbs,
perhaps because the same chemicals that protect the plants from
microorganisms may support our immune system. Many Native
American, Ayurvedic, and Chinese herbal medicines have been used
traditionally to strengthen immunity. Laboratory and animal studies
have conrmed that many plants have an inuence on the immune
system. Research documenting the value of these botanical
medicines in humans is relatively scarce, but suggestive of
measurable benet.
The most popular immune-enhancing herb in the West is
echinacea. Although it is not directly toxic to germs, echinacea does
enhance several aspects of the immune system. Native to North
America, both the owers and roots of this purple coneower have
therapeutic value ranging from treating the common cold to healing
wounds. Echinacea is often combined with another Native American
herb, goldenseal. Although there has not been any convincing
support of goldenseal as having immune-enhancing eects, it
contains a chemical called berberine that has antibacterial activity.
The Chinese herb astragalus has been used for thousands of years
to enhance resistance to infection. Studies over the past several
years have conrmed its ability to enliven components of the
immune system.12 The most eective way to use both echinacea and
astragalus is uncertain. Although some herbalists recommend taking
echinacea throughout the cold and u season, there is some
evidence to suggest that its potency wanes after a couple of weeks.
Therefore it should probably be taken at the rst sign of a viral
illness and continued for a week to ten days.
Ayurveda has its own oering of herbs that enliven immunity.
Ashwagandha is among the most popular Ayurvedic herbs that have
been shown to inuence the immune system. In several studies, it
seems to reduce the toxic eect of cancer chemotherapy drugs on
the bone marrow. At least part of its eect is probably due to its
antioxidant activity.
Another little-known Ayurvedic herb that has shown promising
immune-enhancing properties is guduchi, also known as amrit
(Sanskrit for immortality). This herb has demonstrated the ability to
stimulate both antibody production and cellular immunity in
animals.13 Amalaki and shatavari are other Indian herbs
traditionally used to nourish the subtle substance of immunity
known as ojas. According to Ayurveda, when ojas is abundant and
circulating, cells and tissues function optimally and in support of the
whole physiology. Depletion of ojas makes us vulnerable to internal
and external challenges. As with most Ayurvedic herbs, there has
been little formal scientic research to date on these revered plants,
but interest is growing to explore their possible clinical benets.
Herbs for Detoxication
Other than poisoning by industrial or environmental toxins, the
concept of toxicity is generally rejected by Western medicine, while
the idea that we store toxins in our body that can interfere with
normal physiological functions is a common principle of natural
healing systems. From an Ayurvedic perspective, accumulated
toxins, known as ama, result from poor eating habits, exposure to
alcohol and drugs, and environmental pollutants. Imbalancing life
stresses can also result in toxic accumulations, manifesting as
fatigue, weakened appetite, and susceptibility to infection. Many
people today who are labeled with the diagnosis of chronic fatigue
or systemic candidiasis are considered by Ayurveda to have ama
accumulations.
Perhaps a bridge between the long-standing natural healing
systems and modern medical science is the recognition that free
radical molecules can damage healthy tissues, leading to an
accumulation of chemicals that interfere with normal cellular
function. Smoking, high-fat diets, environmental toxins, radiation,
and potent chemicals can increase the production of free radicals,
accelerating the development of illnesses ranging from Alzheimer’s
disease to cancer, from arthritis to heart disease.
Many of the herbs traditionally used to detoxify the body contain
antioxidant components and phytochemicals that help the body
neutralize damaging free radical molecules. Allspice, clove, oregano,
pepper, rosemary, sage, and turmeric have all been shown to possess
potent antioxidant abilities. Herbs and spices were used in ancient
times to reduce food spoilage. Today we are learning that they help
protect our cells from damaging reactive molecules.
Among the most important detoxifying Ayurvedic herbs is ginger.
One of its Sanskrit names is vishwabhesaj, which is translated as
“universal medicine.” From an Ayurvedic perspective, ginger
enhances all phases of digestion and helps to reduce the
accumulation of ama. From a scientic viewpoint, ginger has
antioxidant properties and can reduce nausea and enhance digestive
enzymes. Another important Ayurvedic detoxier is aloe vera juice.
It also is rich in antioxidants and is useful for a variety of chronic
disorders including inammatory conditions and liver problems.
A lesser-known detoxifying herb is neem, traditionally used to
treat fevers and inammation. It can enhance immunity and is
highly regarded in India for its antiseptic and purifying properties.
Neem is protective against yeast and bacterial infections and has
been used in the treatment of malaria. It can induce abortions and
should not be used by pregnant women.
Several herbs have been gaining attention for their possible
protective role in conditions of liver damage. Kutki, phyllanthus,
and silybum are traditional botanical medicines that have been
shown to reduce liver damage as a result of injury by drug or
infection.14 From a natural medicine perspective, they support the
liver in its detoxifying role.
Herbs for Rejuvenation and Energy
Herbal tonics and elixirs have been components of healing systems
around the world for thousands of years. As people grow older, it is
understandable that they seek out substances that promise to restore
vitality and slow the aging process. Of course, if such a magic
potion were reliable, we would have it in our water supply and
there would be scant need for cosmetic surgeons.
As we discussed earlier, there is a growing recognition of the role
of free radicals in the aging process. Biological molecules damaged
by these reactive substances accumulate in cells and eventually
interfere with normal functioning. Enhancing our ability to
neutralize free radicals before they wreak their havoc is the basis of
new treatments for several degenerative conditions including
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and multiple
sclerosis.
We may learn that traditional herbal “tonics” provide value
through their special chemical properties. The fruit of amalaki is
one botanical substance that may deserve its reputation as a
rejuvenative. It has been shown to be one of the richest sources of
vitamin C available on earth. Studies in animals of formulas
containing amalaki have suggested that it may confer protection
against both heart disease and cancer.15
Ashwagandha, from the Ayurvedic tradition, and ginseng, from
the traditional Chinese and Korean medical systems, are two herbs
that play similar roles. Both are reputed to enhance energy and
vitality, and are important rejuvenatives. The lore about these
substances goes further, promising the recovery of the potency of
youth. Is there a way to assess scientically the claims of these
almost mythical substances?
If we look at the idea of a rejuvenative from a modern
perspective, what would we want it to accomplish? Simply
speaking, we would like the herb to neutralize the damaging and
degenerative eects of stress on mind and body. The Russians
coined the term adaptogen to describe this protective eect. When
animals are subjected to threatening situations, they respond with
rises in stress hormones and weakness in the immune system. An
adaptogen blunts the response of harmful eects of stress, and both
ginseng and ashwagandha have shown some eectiveness in this
regard. Whether this blunting of the stress response is due to
antioxidant properties or some other eects is still to be dened.
What is clear is that these tonic herbs have been around a long time
and are likely to grow in popularity as our society ages.
In addition to tonic herbs, both traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) and Ayurveda emphasize the tonic value of specic foods. In
TCM, rice, walnuts, and grapes are considered to be rejuvenating. In
Ayurveda, milk, honey, almonds, and claried butter are viewed as
having specic tonic properties. In both Ayurveda and TCM, tonic
foods are not recommended until after one has undergone a
detoxication program. As more westerners embrace these
principles, it will be interesting to see how we are able to integrate
the concepts of detoxication and purication with our Western
molecular medical model. If scientists take these ideas seriously
enough to approach them with an open mind, we are certain that
new discoveries of the healing value of natural substances will
unfold.
Herbs to Enhance Circulation
Although the modern description of the circulatory system is
generally credited to William Harvey in 1628, an understanding of
the channels of circulation carrying energy and vital uids to the
tissues of the body was known to ancient Chinese and Indian
physicians. Ancient healers also recognized that blockages to
circulatory ow resulted in illness and death. Herbal medicines to
improve circulation have been explored around the world, and
many of them have been essential in the development of modern
medicines. Digitalis, the heart stimulant, is derived from foxglove,
an important cardiac tonic prized by the ancient Egyptians, and the
blood pressure medicine called reserpine is an extract of snakeroot,
well known to Ayurvedic doctors since antiquity. Because of the
wide natural variation in the potency of these botanical medicines,
the standardization of pharmacologically derived drugs was a major
advance in the safe use of these powerful substances.
Circulatory herbs that are less potent and less risky can be
grouped into three main categories: those that reduce fats in the
blood, those that have a thinning eect on the blood, and those that
have a tonic eect on the heart. Garlic and guggulu fall into the rst
category. Although many earlier reports suggested that garlic had a
modest fat-lowering eect, a recent study has cast some doubts on
this property.16 Guggulu, the resin from a small native Indian tree,
has consistently shown itself as a safe and eective lipid-lowering
herb.
The tendency for blood to stagnate or clot contributes to the risk
of cardiovascular attacks. Low daily doses of aspirin have been
shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. A variety of
herbs and spices have been shown to aect platelets, the tiny blood
components that initiate the clotting process. Turmeric, cumin,
feverfew, and onions all keep platelets from sticking together too
easily, although their clinical eectiveness remains to be dened.
Although garlic’s role in lowering blood lipids may be controversial,
its eect on platelets is generally well accepted.
Circulatory tonics have a supportive eect on the heart. In the
West, hawthorn has been used since the Middle Ages. It increases
blood supply to the heart, inhibits the development of
atherosclerosis, strengthens heart contractions, and mildly lowers
blood pressure. These combined eects improve the quality of life in
people with heart disease.17 The Ayurvedic equivalent of hawthorn
is arjuna, the bark of a tree that has been used in India for over
three thousand years. Studies have suggested that this ancient heart
tonic can reduce cholesterol levels, improve the strength of heart
contractions, and lower the frequency of chest pain episodes.18
Although these herbal heart tonics may oer new approaches to the
treatment of our society’s most common serious illness, we strongly
recommend that you consult with your physician before using them.
Honor Herbs and Be Smart
Herbs are nature’s gifts. Used appropriately and respectfully, they
can serve as valuable tools on the path toward regaining and
maintaining your health. As with any tool, a medicinal herb can be
useful in some circumstances, but not in all. Learning to use plant-
based medicines in the right context and with the right intention is
vital to tapping into their healing power.
If you are facing a serious illness, engage your physician in an
open discussion of your needs. If you do not feel you can honestly
explore your interest in natural healing approaches with your
doctor, seek out a health-care provider who supports your role as an
active partner in your healing journey. If you are taking medication
for a problem, do not abruptly discontinue it without the guidance
of your doctor. If you are on medication and wish to start an herbal
remedy, discuss it with your health-care provider to be certain that
there are not potentially dangerous interactions between the
medicine and the herb.19
Used responsibly, plant-based medicines are important and
valuable healing aids, but they are neither a substitute for necessary
medication nor good nutrition. If we are to see the return of herbal
medicines to their rightful place in our modern healing inventory,
we need to use them judiciously. It is in this spirit of honoring the
rightful place of herbs that we explore in detail the forty herbs that
constitute the Chopra Center Herbal Formulary in the next section
of this book. Most common health concerns can be addressed with
these few dozen healing plants. We encourage you to become
intimately familiar with them, as they can be your powerful healing
allies.
T
6
Making the Best Use of This Book
he next major section is the heart of this book, in which we
describe in detail the forty most important herbs in use at the
Chopra Center for Well Being. In each description the familiar,
Latin, and Sanskrit (when available) names are provided for each
herb. After a brief introduction to the herb, we review the scientic
research that has been published on the plant or its derived
components. We share with many of our readers an aversion to
unnecessary animal testing; still, we have chosen to reference all
published sources that provide credible information that can help us
advance the cause of natural choices in health care. To the spirits of
the creatures that have been sacriced in the name of science, we
oer our deepest gratitude.
Following the scientic review is a description of the practical
uses of the herb, which draws upon both ancient and modern
healing systems. The traditional uses of an herbal product may be
dierent from the popular applications, which are often based upon
scientic ndings. We feel most condent when there is alignment
between the traditional and scientically supported uses.
Next, we address the currently available forms of the herbal
medicine in the marketplace, including usual dosing
recommendations. Several studies have found that not every herbal
product delivers on what it is advertised to be. In lieu of regulations
and enforcement of herbal product quality, you must take the
responsibility for ensuring that you are receiving high-quality herbs.
Research the manufacturer, and favor those lines that produce a
standardized product. A list of the constituents in our Chopra Center
Herbal Formulary product line is provided in the appendix.
Each herb is then analyzed from an Ayurvedic perspective. Two-
thirds of the herbs we explore in detail are traditional Ayurvedic
medicines, with the remainder representing botanical substances
derived from Native American, European, Chinese, and Australian
herbal systems. Even if the herb was not originally known in India,
we analyze it according to basic Ayurvedic principles, which
elaborate its eects on the primary mind-body elements.
Finally, we address any potentially negative eects related to use
of the herb. Precautions or known adverse side eects are reviewed.
As a general principle, we do not encourage the use of herbal
medicines in conjunction with pharmaceutical drugs unless you are
under the guidance of a health-care provider who can help you
navigate safely in both worlds. Similarly, because so little research
has been done in this area, we recommend that you do not take
medicinal herbs while pregnant or nursing a baby.
At the end of each description is a table that includes the ten basic
physiological systems that may be inuenced by the herb under
discussion.
On this page–this page is a chart that covers each of the forty
herbs, listed in alphabetical order according to their Latin names
and showing their primary uses. A table of the alphabetized Latin,
common, and Sanskrit names is presented on this page to this page.
We hope this deeper exploration of herbal medicines will serve
both individuals in their personal path to well-being as well as
members of the professional health-care community. The botanical
kingdom has provided us with vast natural healing resources, for
which we are inexhaustibly grateful. We are in complete accordance
with Linnaeus, the great eighteenth-century Swedish botanist when
he wrote:
“Herbs and plants are medical jewels gracing the woods, elds,
and lanes, which few eyes see, and few minds understand. Through
this want of observation and knowledge, the world suers immense
loss.”
THE
FORTY HERBS
OF THE
CHOPRA CENTER
HERBAL
FORMULARY
The Forty Herbs of the Chopra Formulary
Herbs Alphabetized According to Their Latin
Names
G
ALLIUM SATIVUM
FAMILIAR: garlic
LATIN: Allium sativum
SANSKRIT: rasonam
arlic declares its presence with its unmistakable pungent
aroma. Its penetrating fragrance heralds its potent medicinal
qualities, which have been identied and prized around the
world. In Ayurveda it is considered a rejuvenative that nourishes all
the tissue layers. A native to central Asia, garlic was well known to
the ancient Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians. The slaves who
built the Great Pyramid were fed garlic to improve their endurance.
In 1858, Louis Pasteur, the great French scientist who developed
the process of pasteurizing milk, was the rst westerner to
document garlic’s anti-infective properties, known to herbalists for
thousands of years. Its has a long-standing reputation as a healing
ally in cardiovascular disease and cancer. Thousands of scientic
studies have been published on this complex botanical substance
that contains almost two hundred dierent chemical components,
most of which have not been carefully researched. Other than its
strong odor, which unabashedly announces the presence of its
acionados, garlic has a very high safety prole as both food and
medicine.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The characteristic fragrance of garlic is not released until the clove
is broken and the odorless substance alliin makes contact with the
enzyme allinase to create the familiar-smelling compound allicin.
Allicin is not a stable compound and is further broken down by
stomach acid and heat into a number of other sulfur-containing
chemicals. Although most medical research has focused on allicin,
these other components of garlic may also play important health-
promoting roles. In addition to its chemical constituents, garlic is a
good source of vitamins and trace minerals, including selenium.
Although garlic has the greater reputation as a healing herb, onions
also have similar sulfur-containing substances that may provide
comparable benets.
THE SCIENCE OF GARLIC
Garlic has been promoted as a natural protector against heart
disease. Its potential benets derive from its eects on blood lipids,
clotting factors, and blood pressure. Several reports in the mid-
nineties suggested that garlic was capable of lowering cholesterol
levels by about 10 percent.1, 2 More closely controlled subsequent
studies produced inconsistent results, with some demonstrating
denite benet while others showed no value.3, 4 For example, a
recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association did
not nd any lowering of high cholesterol levels in people who took
steam-distilled garlic oil.5 One of the challenges in making sense of
these contradictory ndings is that dierent forms of garlic are used
in each study. In some reports, less than 10 percent of commercial
garlic preparations contain even measurable allicin levels. Until we
know what forms of garlic are most eective, we recommend you
simply add garlic to your diet and enjoy the avor, knowing that it
may also be helping to lower your cholesterol level.
Garlic has other potential benets on the cardiovascular system
other than its possible role on fats in the blood. It inhibits the
stickiness of platelets, reducing the tendency for blood vessels to
clot.6 Garlic also seems to keep blood vessels from becoming sti,
which may explain its ability to lower blood pressure.7, 8 Although
each property of garlic needs further documentation, its combined
eects support the addition of this rich and complex herb to the diet
of anyone who is concerned about heart disease.
Does the deodorized form provide equivalent benets? Thus far, it
is not clear what, if anything, is lost when the powerful-smelling
allicin is neutralized. Enteric-coated forms may diminish the smell
of garlic on your breath and skin without losing the therapeutic
benets.
Garlic’s role in the prevention and treatment of cancer has
received considerable attention. Studies in animals have shown that
garlic reduces the risk of chemically caused tumors and can treat
certain types of cancer in doses that are proportionate to what
humans can get in their diet.9, 10 Garlic added to human colon
cancer cells grown in a laboratory is also eective in inhibiting their
growth.11 Studies in people have shown that a diet rich in garlic
may provide protection against stomach and breast cancer, although
further research is needed to see how meaningful this eect is.12, 13
Garlic’s role as an anti-infective agent is receiving renewed
interest. It has been known for years to diminish the growth of
viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Recent studies have suggested that
garlic oil may help treat disease-producing agents ranging from
athletes foot to Pneumocystis carinii, a serious infection commonly
seen in AIDS patients.14, 15 One of the most practical therapeutic
applications of garlic may be its role in the treatment of Helicobacter
pylori, a bacteria that has been associated with stomach ulcers and
stomach cancer.16 The usual treatment for this infection involves
several expensive medications. If further studies conrm its ecacy,
garlic may be a cost-eective treatment for this common condition.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GARLIC
The repertoire of illnesses to which garlic has traditionally been
applied is vast. Garlic has a reputation as an eective treatment for
lung congestion, arthritic stiness and pain, and to calm people with
hysteria. It has been used to promote normal menstruation in
woman and to improve libido in men. Applied externally, garlic oil
is used as a liniment for sore muscles and to hasten the healing of
festering sores. In addition to its role in heart disease and cancer,
garlic is a natural pharmacy unto itself that can keep medical
scientists busy for many years researching its potential therapeutic
uses.
We use garlic as a grounding rejuvenative for people who have a
predominance of mental turbulence. For those with mildly elevated
cholesterol or high blood pressure, a daily clove of garlic added to
sautéed vegetables or pasta sauce may reduce the need for
medication. For people with recurrent peptic ulcers, it may be worth
a trial of a couple of cloves of garlic per day before starting the
prolonged antibiotic therapy that is usually required to eliminate
the infectious agent associated with ulcers. For stubborn skin
infections, apply freshly squeezed garlic oil directly to the area three
times a day for a week. For people who cannot tolerate the strong
smell of garlic or wish to avoid it for other reasons, leeks can
provide similar but less odoriferous benets.
HOW TO USE GARLIC
Garlic is available in many dierent forms, including capsules,
tablets, and powders. It can be deodorized or enteric-coated.
Although the precise chemicals and dosage that deliver garlic’s
benets are still being dened, a daily clove of raw garlic is
probably your safest bet that you are consuming adequate quantities
of allicin. If you are taking a processed garlic product, try to nd
one that delivers a daily allicin dose of 4 to 5 milligrams (4,000 to
5,000 micrograms).
AYURVEDA AND GARLIC
Ayurveda has long recognized the healing potency of garlic, which
carries ve of the six tastes, missing only sour. It is balancing to
Vata and Kapha, but has a moderately heating inuence that may
aggravate Pitta. You may read in Ayurvedic books that garlic is to
be used sparingly by those engaged in spiritual practices because it
has a dulling eect on the mind. Others suggest that it stimulates
sexual passion and therefore is distracting for those on a spiritual
path. If you are a monk or a nun, you may want to reduce your
garlic use. For anyone else, a little garlic may help enhance your
health and well-being.
PRECAUTIONS
Precautions with garlic follow its therapeutic eects. If you are on
blood-pressure medications and begin taking regular doses of garlic,
be certain to monitor your pressures so you are not overtreating
your hypertension. Because of garlic’s potential blood-thinning
properties, be cautious taking garlic if you are on blood-thinning
medicines.
A
ALOE VERA
FAMILIAR: aloe vera
LATIN: Aloe vera
SANSKRIT: kumari
loe vera has been honored as a healing plant for thousands
of years around the world. The ancient Mesopotamians,
Egyptians, and Greeks knew of the therapeutic benet of this
hardy succulent. In Ayurveda, aloe is known as kumari, which,
alluding to its recuperative properties, can be translated as “the
vitality of youth.” There are several hundred species of aloe plants,
of which aloe vera is best known for its medicinal qualities. Native
to southern and eastern Africa, aloe is now cultivated throughout
the Mediterranean, India, the Caribbean, and Australia. Thriving
easily as an indoor potted plant, families on almost every continent
keep aloe close at hand to treat minor burns and abrasions.
Although aloe is best known as a topical treatment for injuries to
the skin, it also has potent therapeutic eects when taken internally.
It has an established role in Chinese medicine, where it is used to
clear excessive heat from the liver. It plays a similar detoxifying role
in Ayurveda, Tibetan medicine, and other traditional healing
cultures across the globe.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The eshy leaves of aloe vera are easily recognized by their spiny
margins. Individual leaves may be up to a foot and a half long, and
each plant may have more than two dozen leaves. The aloe vera
plant can be easily propagated by separating a small cluster of
leaves that have rooted and replanting them in loose soil.
An aloe vera leaf has three layers, including an outer thick skin,
an inner lining, and a central pulp of gel-containing cells. A very
bitter, dark yellow juice is obtained from the inner lining, which
contains several anthraquinone chemicals that have a strong
laxative eect. The gel of the leaf is used topically and internally for
its antibiotic and wound healing properties. Aloe vera juice, readily
available in health-food stores, is essentially the gel diluted with
water.
Many other chemical compounds are found in aloe, including
glycosides, steroids, vitamins, and minerals. One chemical
constituent of aloe, called acemannan, has been shown to activate
immune function, interrupt viral replication, and reduce
inammation.
THE SCIENCE OF ALOE VERA
Aloe vera is best known and most widely studied for its ability to
promote wound healing. Serious scientic interest in aloe dates back
to the mid 1930s, when it was reported to relieve the smoldering
skin inammation in a woman who had radiation damage to her
forehead.1 Within a day of applying fresh aloe gel, her symptoms
improved, and within ve months her skin irritation healed fully.
Subsequent reports have suggested that the therapeutic eect of
aloe may be related to its ability to stimulate the turnover of
collagen in the skin, facilitating faster wound repair.2
Acting as an inhibitor of prostaglandin chemicals, aloe has potent
anti-inammatory eects when used both orally and topically.3 In
addition to its ability to cool inammation, aloe has antibiotic
activity against both bacteria and fungi. The combination of these
properties contributes to its ecacy in enhancing recovery from
burn injuries. A recent report found that patients on a burn unit
treated with aloe gel healed in less than two-thirds of the time of
those whose wounds were treated in the customary manner.4 Aloe
cream has been used successfully in the treatment of psoriasis, with
more than 80 percent of patients in a Swedish study reporting
substantial benet.5 The widespread benets of aloe in the
treatment of tissue injury were demonstrated in a study on frostbite
in which aloe showed an ability to limit permanent damage and
speed recovery.6
Aloe may have value in the prevention and treatment of cancer,
although this application is in the preliminary stages of
investigation.7 Potentially valuable uses for aloe vera include its role
in the treatment of inammatory bowel disease and chronic fatigue
syndrome. The anti-inammatory properties of acemannan, a
component of aloe vera, may pacify the autoimmune process that
damages the digestive tract in ulcerative colitis.8 Aloe vera may also
play a part in a holistic approach to the treatment of chronic fatigue
syndrome, a common and debilitating illness for which modern
medicine has few eective interventions.9
Aloe vera’s role in the digestive tract has been studied for many
years. Aloin, the chemical component responsible for aloe’s laxative
eect, was identied in the mid-1800s. In small amounts it helps
tone the intestines, but becomes cathartic at higher doses. Although
it can be helpful in constipation, it has an irritating eect on the
bowel and is not recommended for regular usage. The soothing
inner gel contains chemical components that are eective in
reducing stomach acid and treating peptic ulcers.10
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ALOE VERA
Many traditional properties ascribed to aloe have not yet received
scientic attention. In both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, aloe is
used to help smooth menstrual-cycle concerns, including
premenstrual mood swings, bloating, and breast tenderness. It is
also reported helpful in reducing the hot ashes of menopause. Aloe
has been recommended in the treatment of other hormonal
imbalances, including hyperthyroidism and pituitary conditions.
We use aloe vera juice liberally at the Chopra Center. It is a
standard component of our detoxication program, in which we
encourage people to consume half an ounce of juice twice daily. For
people with inammatory imbalances such as hepatitis, heartburn,
skin rashes, emotional irritability, and inammatory arthritis, we
encourage people to take one to two ounces of aloe vera juice three
times a day. For teenagers with acne, two ounces of aloe juice mixed
into four ounces of carrot juice can help reduce their aggravated
skin.
Topically, we routinely recommend aloe gel for stubborn skin
irritations. The combination of turmeric powder mixed with aloe
and applied directly to insect bites, burns, or acne sores can
facilitate rapid healing. Blended with dried lavender owers, cumin,
and comfrey, aloe gel makes a nice facial mask that replenishes dry
skin and improves tone.
We rarely use aloe vera powder for its laxative eect. Other
herbal cathartics, including senna and cascara sagrada, are equally
eective and do not cause as much cramping as aloe.
HOW TO USE ALOE VERA
Aloe vera juice is readily available at health-food stores. We
recommend pure aloe vera without other herbal additives. The usual
dosage is one-half to two ounces, mixed in apple or cranberry juice,
two to three times per day. Fresh aloe gel can be obtained by
splitting a leaf with a knife and scraping the gel. We caution against
taking homemade gel internally, as it is not always easy to separate
the bitter cathartic component from the inner soothing gel.
AYURVEDA AND ALOE VERA
According to Ayurveda, aloe is a complex herb that has bitter,
sweet, and pungent avors with an overall cooling inuence on the
physiology. Used to cleanse the liver of excessive Pitta while toning
digestive power, it is a gentle yet powerful detoxifying substance
that is balancing to all three doshas. It is commonly mixed with
other substances such as cranberry or pomegranate juice to enhance
its purifying properties. Aloe vera juice mixed with raw sugar is
used as a general rejuvenative tonic for women transitioning
through their menopause.
PRECAUTIONS
Powdered aloe vera obtained from the inner lining of the leaf is
strongly laxative and can create bowel laziness. Aloe vera juice
derived from the gel is generally safe in usual doses. We do not
recommend its internal use during pregnancy.
T
ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA
FAMILIAR: Indian gentian, king of bitters
LATIN: Andrographis paniculata
SANSKRIT: kirata, kalmegha, bhunimb, mahatikta
housands of years ago, the Kiratas, a small tribe of people
living in the forests of the Himalayan Mountains, utilized a
bitter herb to treat fevers. The earliest Ayurvedic sages
named this plant kirata tikta, meaning the bitter herb of the Kirata
people. It was used for the treatment of a wide range of infectious
diseases and to clear excessive heat from the liver. During their
occupation of India, the British military and administrative forces
used this plant, which they called Indian gentian, to treat malaria.
Modern scientic studies have conrmed the detoxifying and anti-
infectious properties of this ancient remedy.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Indian gentian is an annual tropical shrub that grows wild
throughout the plains of India. It has characteristic four-sided stalks
giving rise to three-inch-long pointed leaves. Delicate pink to
purplish owers arise on thin stems and produce small encapsulated
fruits containing six to twelve attened seeds. The entire plant is
used medicinally.
A variety of terpenes and avonoids have been identied in
kirata, including several unique compounds called
andrographolides. These chemicals appear to be responsible for
many of the immunological and circulatory actions of Indian
gentian, although some studies have reported that the whole-leaf
extract has protective eects on the liver that is not fully accounted
for by the andrographolide component.1
THE SCIENCE OF INDIAN GENTIAN
Scientic research on Indian gentian has focused on its immune-
enhancing and circulatory activity. It has received a lot of attention
since the recent publication of a Swedish study that reported a
signicant benet of kirata in reducing the symptoms of the
common cold.2 Compared with those taking a placebo, people given
Indian gentian showed a faster recovery from the cold, less severe
symptoms, and less time missed from work. Earlier studies from
Asia and Latin America suggested similar benets.
Laboratory studies on Indian gentian have demonstrated a variety
of pharmacological eects. Mice given extracts of kirata show
enhancement of their immune systems, with more aggressive
antibody production and cellular responsivity.3 Although Indian
gentian does not appear to have a direct antibacterial eect, it may
confer protection from a wide range of infections including malaria,
parasites, and retroviruses.4–7 People with tonsillitis experience
more rapid relief of their fever and sore throat, and patients who
undergo treatment for kidney stones have fewer urinary tract
infections.8, 9 Early clinical trials in HIV-infected men have
suggested that an Indian gentian extract may lead to modest
improvements in immune function.10 Although these ndings are
limited, they do provide the impetus for further scientic study into
the immune-enhancing potential of Indian gentian.
Another potentially important role for Indian gentian is in the
treatment of heart disease. Studies in animals have shown it to have
a wide range of physiological eects that may benet people with
coronary heart problems. Indian gentian has blood-pressure-
lowering and heart-rate-slowing eects, both of which can reduce
the strain on oxygen-decient heart muscle.11 In studies of animals
with heart attacks, Indian gentian reduces the damage to heart
tissue and the frequency of life-threatening irregularities in the
heart rhythm.12 Several reports in both animals and people have
conrmed kirata’s ability to reduce the stickiness of platelets, which
has the eect of reducing undesirable blood vessel clotting.13, 14 A
study in China tested the combined benet of these dierent
properties in dogs fed a high-cholesterol diet.15 After their severely
obstructed blood vessels were opened by angioplasty, those who
were given Indian gentian had much milder reblockage despite
continuing a high-fat diet. Such ndings warrant further studies to
see if these benets are applicable to people with heart disease.
Kirata has traditionally been used to protect the liver, and several
studies have provided scientic support for this role. Animals given
Indian gentian along with chemicals known to be toxic to the liver
have much less liver damage.16, 17 In one study, Indian gentian was
more eective than silymarin (milk thistle) in protecting the liver.18
In addition to an antioxidant eect, kirata stimulates the ow of
bile, which could be helpful in the prevention of bile stones.19 In
view of its long history in Ayurveda and encouraging laboratory
studies, Indian gentian is deserving of further research to see what
role it may play in the prevention and treatment of liver disease.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF INDIAN GENTIAN
Indian gentian is just beginning to be noticed in the West, despite its
use for over a decade in Scandinavian countries. In addition to its
importance in the Ayurvedic herbal pharmacy, it is valued by
Chinese medicine, where it is known as chuan xin lian. It is not yet
readily available as a single herb, but is a component of many
immune-enhancing formulas.
For the treatment of viral upper respiratory symptoms, it usually
is taken at the earliest sign of symptoms and continued for one
week. As an aid in a detoxication program, it should be taken at
most for two weeks, unless a knowledgeable health-care provider
prescribes it and is monitoring you. Preliminary studies in HIV-
infected patients reported positive laboratory ndings within six
weeks of beginning the herb.20 If you are going to use it for this
condition, be sure to work closely with your health-care adviser so
that you can carefully monitor your viral counts and immune
function.
HOW TO USE INDIAN GENTIAN
When treating the symptoms of a cold or u, the dose used in
published studies is 340 milligrams three times daily for ve days.
The available products in the West usually are standardized to 10
percent andrographolides. About the same dosage was used initially
in the HIV studies (5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight three
times daily) and was then increased (10 to 20 mg/kg) during the
course of six weeks. Indian gentian is also available in herbal
extracts recommended for sore throats and colds.
AYURVEDA AND INDIAN GENTIAN
Indian gentian is very bitter in taste and has a drying, cooling
inuence on the physiology. It is pacifying to Pitta and Kapha, but
can be aggravating to Vata. It is traditionally used in conditions of
Pitta aggravation in which a person has excessive heat congestion
attributed to accumulated liver toxicity.
PRECAUTIONS
Indian gentian has a detoxifying eect and can be depleting if used
for a prolonged time. Animal studies have suggested that kirata has
anti-fertility properties in both males and females.20 Although this
eect has not been reported in people, those trying to get pregnant
are best to avoid it. It is also contraindicated in pregnancy.
ASPARAGUS RACEMOSUS
FAMILIAR: wild asparagus
LATIN: Asparagus racemosus
SANSKRIT: shatavari
S
hatavari is one of the prime rejuvenating herbal medicines in
Ayurveda. It is considered particularly helpful in conditions
aecting the female reproductive system. One of its names
means “having one hundred roots,” which bespeaks its
reputation as a fertility-enhancing plant.
A member of the same family as the common asparagus, shatavari
has nutritive properties. Commonly used in India to improve the
production of breast milk in nursing mothers, it is even fed to cows
to enhance their milk output. It is also eective in relieving
inammatory conditions and in soothing irritated tissues.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Shatavari’s native home is in the lowland jungles of India. The
asparagus plant is a natural climber that is commonly cultivated in
Indian gardens. It produces small, white, fragrant owers and red
berries, but it is the roots and succulent tubers that are used as both
food and medicine.
Active saponins, which are chemically extracted from shatavari
using alcohol or ether, have the eect of suppressing uterine
contractions. Water extracts of shatavari have been shown to reduce
the growth of various microorganisms.
THE SCIENCE OF SHATAVARI
There has been relatively little scientic research into shatavari,
despite its long-standing reputation as a valuable tonic. Studies in
the 1960s explored its role as a milk promoter in animals.1, 2
Although preliminary studies suggested that it could increase breast
milk production in bualo and rats, a recent controlled investigation
in lactating women did not nd any dierence between those
consuming shatavari and those taking a placebo.3
Its traditional role as a digestive aid has received some scientic
support. In men with a history of heartburn and indigestion after
meals, shatavari was found to be as eective as metoclopramide, a
pharmaceutical agent commonly used to treat nausea.4 Although it
has not been formally studied, shatavari also has an established
history as an anti-diarrhea agent.
The immune-modulating properties of shatavari have received the
most scientic attention. Shatavari has a measurable eect on the
functioning of macrophages. These important immune cells are
responsible for digesting potentially harmful organisms as well as
cancer cells. Studies on shatavari have shown that it can enhance
the ability of macrophages to do their job against the fungus
candida.5 Shatavari helps the immune system recover more quickly
after it has been exposed to toxic chemicals, both by enhancing the
production of natural immune-regulating messenger molecules and
by protecting blood-producing cells in the bone marrow.6, 7
Shatavari’s various eects on the immune system have been shown
to reduce the development of scar tissue after surgery in animals.8
All of these properties may have important clinical applications in
people, but more research is needed to determine whether the
laboratory ndings are relevant to humans.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF SHATAVARI
Shatavari is described in Ayurveda as having a nourishing,
smoothing, cooling, lubricating inuence on the physiology. As
such, it is used in conditions when the body and mind are
overheated, depleted, or out of balance. It is commonly
recommended for women who are having menstrual problems,
particularly when irritability and mood swings are prominent. Its
cooling inuence may also benet the hot ashes of women going
through menopause. Shatavari is benecial in cooling o an
irritated digestive system as expressed by heartburn, diarrhea, or
irritable bowel syndrome. It can also be helpful to soothe irritation
in the urinary tract.
Its nutritive properties are invaluable in people recovering from
illness, particularly when there has been substantial weight loss.
Shatavari has a reputation as an enhancer of fertility. It is said to
increase the health of both male and female reproductive tissue.
HOW TO USE SHATAVARI
Shatavari is now available in the United States in both powdered
and capsule forms. When used to treat digestive distress, one
teaspoon in one-half cup of warm milk is taken after each meal. It
mixes well with equal parts of amalaki and licorice for symptoms of
heartburn or indigestion. For symptoms of PMS or menopausal hot
ashes, 500-milligram capsules can be used in doses up to 2 grams
per day.
A teaspoon of powdered shatavari mixed with brown sugar and
organic milk can be added to the diet several times per day in
anyone recovering from a debilitating illness or surgery. Taken in
cool water, shatavari can be used to treat the irritation associated
with nonspecic urethritis or interstitial cystitis, two conditions that
modern medicine treats with diculty.
AYURVEDA AND SHATAVARI
Shatavari is sweet and bitter in taste. It is balancing to Pitta and
Vata, and in excess can mildly increase Kapha. It is one of the
primary rasayanas of value for both men and women.
PRECAUTIONS
Although it is traditionally recommended for lactating mothers, we
have not come across any studies that have evaluated its safety. It is
closely related to the common asparagus, and we would not
anticipate serious health concerns arising from its use by
breastfeeding mothers. Its rich qualities can occasionally aggravate
sinus congestion in people with Kapha tendencies.
A
ASTRAGALUS MEMBRANECEUS
FAMILIAR: astragalus, milk vetch, yellow vetch
LATIN: Astragalus membraneceus
CHINESE: huang qi
stragalus membraneceus, one of the most important tonics in
traditional Chinese medicine, is just beginning to gain
popularity in the West. Often considered the counterpart of
ginseng, astragalus has long been used in Asia to enhance vital
energy and strengthen the defensive forces of the body. Recent
scientic studies have documented profound immune-enhancing
properties of astragalus that may be of therapeutic value in the
treatment of illnesses ranging from cancer to autoimmune diseases.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The Astragalus genus of plants includes almost 2,500 hundred
species, making it the largest on earth. Astragalus is a member of
the legume or pea family, but it is the roots that are the source of
the prized herbal medicine. A perennial plant that grows to a height
of about one and one-half feet, astragalus is native to eastern China
and Mongolia. The dense bushy leaves composed of a dozen paired
leaets give rise to purple pea-like owers. The roots of plants
several years old are harvested, dried, and made into powders and
tinctures.
A number of chemical constituents have been identied in
astragalus roots, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids,
isoavones, choline, and saponins. Several unique compounds called
astragalosides have been isolated. The chemicals responsible for the
various pharmacological actions of astragalus have not been fully
characterized; however, the polysaccharides and saponins are the
most likely candidates for its immune-modulating properties.
THE SCIENCE OF ASTRAGALUS
Dozens of studies in both animals and people have demonstrated
dramatic eects of astragalus on the immune system. Dierent
experiments have tested the protective eect of astragalus on the
immune system by giving animals an immune-suppressing drug or
radiation. In many studies the administration of astragalus partially
or completely reversed the eects of the toxic intervention on the
bone marrow and lymph system.1, 2 Other studies have shown that
astragalus can stimulate immune cells to respond to a variety of
challenges more aggressively, resulting in a slowing of cancer cell
growth and viral replication.3, 4
One of the nasty secrets of cancer cells is their ability to secrete
chemicals that have the eect of sedating immune cells. This
immune depression reduces the ability of the body to identify and
eliminate malignant cells. Laboratory studies have shown that
taking suppressed immune cells and incubating them with
astragalus helps substantially to restore their potency.5, 6
Modern cancer researchers are increasingly looking to nature for
ways to ght this dreaded disease. A developing class of medicines
known as biological response modiers makes use of the natural
disease ghting chemicals of the body. One of these substances,
interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been shown to be a powerful weapon in
certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, it also has powerful side
eects, limiting the amount that can be safely tolerated by cancer
patients. A laboratory study from Texas found that astragalus
potentiated the tumor-cell-killing eect of IL-2, allowing for lower
doses to be used without a loss of ecacy.7 If this can be shown to
be applicable to people, astragalus could play a valuable role in
future cancer treatment protocols.
The clinical application of these laboratory ndings has been
tested in a group of patients with lung cancer who received
astragalus along with standard radiation and chemotherapy. Those
receiving the immune-enhancing herb had signicantly improved
rates of survival, even in patients with more-advanced stages of
illness.8 The potential of astragalus to improve the outcome of
people with cancer is worthy of further exploration.
Astragalus may provide value in the treatment of other health
concerns. Patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) are susceptible to infections, despite their
aggravated immune state. A study from China found that their
immune cells were usually unable to respond normally to
challenges, but the addition of astragalus could improve their
function.9 Astragalus has also been reported to enhance immunity in
people suering with viral infections of the heart, a rare but
potentially disabling condition.10
The role of astragalus on other heart conditions has received
attention, with several reports suggesting it can improve function
and reduce the symptoms of people with coronary heart disease.
Heart patients given astragalus have shown fewer episodes of
anginal chest pain, improvement in their EKGs, and healthier
cardiac function.11, 12 A laboratory study reported that astragalus
improved the utilization of oxygen by heart cells.13 The
investigation of astragalus in the treatment of heart disease, the
most common serious health problem of our society, is a worthy
scientic pursuit. Preliminary reports of the benet of astragalus on
memory, infertility, and protection from liver damage highlight the
diverse potential benets of this ancient healing herb.14–16
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ASTRAGALUS
As a rejuvenative, astragalus can be valuable for people who do not
have the energy they desire. It is particularly useful for those who
feel their circulation is weak because they frequently have cold
hands and feet.
As an immune-enhancing agent it seems to have a sustained
benet, unlike echinacea, which tends to lose its ecacy after a
couple of weeks. If you are facing a serious health challenge such as
cancer, discuss the use of astragalus as an immune tonic with your
doctor. It can also be used at the onset of a cold or u to boost your
body’s defenses.
Its role in heart disease is less clearly dened, although reports
have suggested it can be valuable in both acute and chronic cardiac
conditions. If you are under treatment for a heart ailment, be sure to
discuss the use of astragalus or any other medicinal substance with
your health-care provider before adding it to your regimen.
HOW TO USE ASTRAGALUS
Astragalus is now readily available through health-food stores. It is
usually found in capsules of 400 to 500 milligrams of the dried root.
Extracts and tinctures are also available, in which astragalus is
usually combined with tonic Chinese herbs. Tea bags containing
astragalus are coming to the health-food market.
For general immune enhancement, take 2 to 4 grams daily in
divided doses. If you can nd dried astragalus root at an Asian food
or herb store, simmer a heaping tablespoon for ten minutes, strain,
and drink a cup two or three times per day.
AYURVEDA AND ASTRAGALUS
Not described by the original sages, astragalus can be understood in
Ayurvedic terms. The root is predominantly sweet in taste with a
warming potency. Astragalus is a valuable rejuvenative for all
doshas and is particularly balancing for Vata. In excess, it can mildly
increase Kapha and Pitta.
PRECAUTIONS
Astragalus has a long safety record. We have not encountered any
accounts from the traditional or scientic literature of adverse
reactions attributed to it. Theoretically, its immune-enhancing eect
could be aggravating to autoimmune conditions, although none
have been reported.
T
AZADIRACHTA INDICA
FAMILIAR: neem, margosa, Persian lilac
LATIN: Azadirachta indica
SANSKRIT: nimba, arishta
he neem tree, native to India, is revered as its own botanical
pharmacy, providing leaves, seed oil, and bark with a wide
range of healing benets. This beautiful evergreen tree is
highly resistant to insects and infections, which alerted ancient
healers to its diseaseresistant properties. Traditionally, neem was
taken internally as a blood purier and detoxifying agent in patients
with chronic fevers and infections. Ayurvedic medicine considers
neem to be especially eective as a medicated oil for the treatment
of skin infections, inammatory skin conditions, joint pain, and
muscle aches. In rural areas of India, twigs of the neem tree are used
as toothbrushes to strengthen the gums and prevent gingivitis.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Chemical analysis of neem owers, leaves, seeds, and bark have
identied a variety of bitter substances, some of which are unique to
this tree. Nimbin and azadirachtin have been identied as bitter
components of neem tree bark and seeds that may confer disease
resistance. Antifungal, antibacterial, and antimalarial activity have
been documented for extracts derived from neem leaves and seeds.
Neem is also widely used as a component of nontoxic insecticides
and has been the recent subject of international controversy as
Western pesticide companies seek patents for eective chemical
compounds identied in neem.
THE SCIENCE OF NEEM
Neem has traditionally been used to treat infections, diabetes,
obesity, anxiety, and pain. It is also reputed to protect the liver
against toxic injuries caused by drugs or viruses. Modern studies
have suggested that many of the properties traditionally attributed
to neem can be scientically validated. Extracts of neem have been
shown to inhibit bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections.1, 2 In
addition to a direct eect on potentially harmful organisms, neem
also enhances several aspects of immune function.3 A recent report
from the UCLA School of Dentistry found that neem could reduce
the ability of streptococcal bacteria to colonize the surface of teeth,
providing an explanation for neem’s long-standing reputation as a
cavity ghter.4 A neem and turmeric paste applied to the scalp is
very eective for the treatment of scabies, a common and
contagious skin infection caused by a tiny mite.5 In tropical
countries, neem’s antibiotic properties are applied for the treatment
of malaria and to curtail mosquito growth.
Neem has been shown to have measurable anti-inammatory
actions, anti-anxiety eects, and signicant pain relieving
properties.6, 7, 8 A potentially important clinical benet of neem is
its ability to reduce the incidence of stomach ulcers in response to
stress by blunting the release of inammatory chemicals.9 Although
its ecacy in human beings is yet to be fully documented, neem has
been shown to lower blood sugar levels in animals, giving support
to one of its traditional roles as an anti-diabetes herb.10
Neem has been shown to have contraceptive and abortifacient
eects in animal studies, which may eventually have practical
applications in people.11, 12 Because of these properties, neem
products should not be taken by women who are or may be
pregnant.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF NEEM
We prescribe neem when we believe a person needs gentle
detoxication. People who have been overeating, abusing drugs or
alcohol, or who have recently taken steroids, antibiotics, or cancer
chemotherapy drugs benet from the cleansing eect of neem.
People attempting to lose weight and those facing Type II diabetes
mellitus may also be helped by the toxin-reducing properties of
neem.
Externally, neem is useful for inammatory skin lesions such as
allergic dermatitis or eczema. It can also be directly applied to acne
skin lesions. If someone appears to have toxic accumulations but is
quite debilitated, we use neem cautiously, as it has a depleting
eect on tissues.
HOW TO USE NEEM
Neem leaves are available in Indian and Middle Eastern food stores,
where they are sold as a culinary spice. Neem leaves added to soups,
casseroles, or vegetable dishes add a pleasant bitter avor and serve
to reduce toxic accumulations. Neem powder and neem oil are
available at most health-food stores. If you are using neem as a
detoxifying agent, take one-half teaspoon in juice or water three
times daily for one week. If you are using neem topically for a skin
infection, make a paste with neem powder and apply it twice daily.
For dry, irritated skin, apply medicated neem oil twice daily until
the area clears.
Neem trees are now readily available from farms where they can
be grown in climates where it does not freeze, such as Florida or
Southern California. Whether you are able to pick the leaves o
your tree or obtain them from an Indian market, try steeping them
in hot water, then spraying the infusion on fruit or vegetable plants
to limit insect and fungal infestations. Neem leaves have been used
for centuries to protect clothing and papers from mold and mildew.
According to Ayurveda, neem should be included in everyone’s
home pharmacy.
AYURVEDA AND NEEM
From an Ayurvedic perspective, neem is bitter, drying, and cold,
making it a useful medicinal herb in conditions that are hot and
damp. It can be helpful in Kapha and Pitta conditions, but may
exacerbate Vata problems. Its drying and purifying qualities
contribute to neem’s role in inammatory and toxic states. Neem’s
detoxifying properties also explain its value in problems of retention
and excess, such as diabetes and obesity.
PRECAUTIONS
Due to its contraceptive and possible abortion-promoting properties,
neem should be avoided in woman of childbearing years who are
pregnant or may want to become pregnant. It should also be used
cautiously in people who are severely depleted from chronic illness
or poor nutrition.
BOSWELLIA SERRATA
FAMILIAR: boswellia, Indian olibanum, salai
guggal
LATIN: Boswellia serrata
SANSKRIT: shallaki, kunduru
oswellia is also known as Indian frankincense, one of several plants
in a family of resinous trees famous for their aromatic oils. Prized
Bfrom North Africa to India, frankincense, along with myrrh
and gold, was among the original oerings to the Christ
Child. Referenced in the earliest Ayurvedic texts, boswellia
was traditionally used to treat respiratory ailments, disorders of the
digestive system, and joint diseases. Pharmacological studies
performed in the late 1960s and early 1970s identied unique pain-
relieving, sedating, and anti-inammatory properties in extracts of
boswellia. Clinical studies are now conrming many of the
traditional uses for boswellia, including the treatment of asthma,
arthritis, and inammatory bowel diseases.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Many closely related trees yield the fragrant resin known as
frankincense. Boswellia trees are native to North Africa and the
Middle East, but it is only in the dry, mountainous forests of western
and central India that Boswellia serrata can be found. The tree,
which can grow slowly to eighteen feet in height, has a thick,
papery bark that yields a gummy exudate when peeled away or cut.
The gum contains a variety of natural sugars, volatile essential
oils, and terpenoids. Several unique triterpene acids, identied in
the terpenoid component, have been named boswellic acids and
appear to account for boswellia’s medicinal properties. Animal
studies on the alcoholic extract of the gum have demonstrated
potent anti-inammatory actions by inhibiting the production of
prostaglandins.1
THE SCIENCE OF BOSWELLIA
Prostaglandin chemicals play an important role in many dierent
physiological functions. They are essential in the regulation of the
digestive, respiratory, and urinary tracts. They also play a pivotal
role in the clotting system and are the fundamental chemical
messengers in an inammatory response. Boswellia has been shown
to inhibit an important enzyme in the formation of inammatory
prostaglandins, known as 5-lipoxygenase.2, 3 The blocking of this
enzyme reduces the production of chemicals called leukotrienes,
which provoke and perpetuate inammation.4, 5
Excessive production of leukotrienes has been implicated in a
variety of immune disorders including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis,
and ulcerative colitis. Boswellia has been shown to provide potential
therapeutic benets in each of these health conditions. In a recent
paper from Germany, 70 percent of patients with bronchial asthma
who received boswellia showed improvement in their breathing,
compared with only 27 percent of those given a placebo.6 The
benets were apparent clinically as well as through breathing and
blood studies.
Boswellia has classically been used in the treatment of joint pain
and inammation. Animal studies have shown boswellia to reduce
the deterioration of joint sugars and proteins required for healthy
function.7 People taking boswellia along with ashwagandha,
turmeric, and zinc for degenerative osteoarthritis reported less joint
pain, better movement, and improved strength without any serious
side eects.8 Although case reports have suggested that boswellia is
also benecial in rheumatoid arthritis, a recent German report did
not nd any dierence between those taking the herb and those on
a placebo, although over half of the patients did not complete the
study.9
Leukotrienes have been implicated in the smoldering
inammation associated with ulcerative colitis, an inammatory
bowel disorder that aects about one in one thousand people. A
study from India that compared the use of boswellia with the
standard drug treatment for ulcerative colitis found that 82 percent
of patients taking the herb went into remission, compared with 75
percent on the medication.10 A wide range of measurements
improved, including the frequency of bowel movements and the
microscopic ndings on biopsies.
Although these studies in people are limited, it is encouraging
that this apparently safe and inexpensive herb can provide such a
wide range of potential benets. It may be very rewarding for
medical research to explore the potential value of boswellia in the
many inammatory conditions that aict people.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF BOSWELLIA
From an Ayurvedic perspective, boswellia is useful in the treatment
of an expansive variety of health concerns. It is said to have
stimulating properties, can help mobilize phlegm in respiratory
conditions, and treats digestive disturbances, from heartburn to
diarrhea. It is part of several Ayurvedic obesity formulas, in which it
is said to enhance metabolic activity. As a paste, boswellia can be
applied directly to skin irritations ranging from diabetic ulcers to
acne. As a cream or poultice applied to joints, it can reduce the pain
of arthritis and injury.
Boswellia can normalize menstrual irregularities and treat liver
ailments. It has been used traditionally to treat both syphilis and
gonorrhea. As a mouthwash, it can treat bad breath due to gum
disease. If there is a common theme to the traditional role of
boswellia, it is its purported ecacy in conditions of excessive
inammation.
HOW TO USE BOSWELLIA
Boswellia is now widely available in the West from a variety of
herbal companies. Most doses are standardized to contain between
37.5 and 65 percent boswellic acids, yielding 150 to 200 milligrams
per tablet or capsule. Check the information on the bottle to
determine whether the dosing is in terms of the herb compound or
the boswellic acid extract. For example, a 300-milligram tablet
standardized to yield 65 percent boswellic acids will provide 195
milligrams of boswellic acids. Studies have used daily doses between
450 milligrams (150 milligrams three times a day) and 1,200
milligrams (400 milligrams three times a day).
Boswellia is also available as a component of a topical cream,
combined with capsaicin and salycilates. This can be applied to sore
muscles and aching joints several times daily.
AYURVEDA AND BOSWELLIA
According to Ayurveda, boswellia carries the astringent, bitter, and
sweet tastes. It has a cooling eect on the physiology. It is most
pacifying to Pitta and can also reduce Kapha. It is mildly
aggravating to Vata in high doses.
PRECAUTIONS
Unlike most anti-inammatory medications, boswellia is not
reported to cause stomach ulcers or gastritis. People rarely report
mild nausea, diarrhea, or a skin rash.
O
CAMELLIA SINENSIS
FAMILIAR: tea
LATIN: Camellia sinensis, Thea sinensis
SANSKRIT/HINDI: chai
ther than water, tea is consumed by more people than any
other beverage on earth. Tea has been a part of the human
diet for close to ve thousand years, since its discovery by
the legendary Chinese emperor Shen Nong. The story goes that he
stopped with his entourage for refreshment, and while his cook was
boiling water, the leaves of a nearby bush blew into the water,
resulting in the rst herbal infusion of what we now call tea.
This invigorating herb from China spread to Japan and India, then
across Europe and Russia. Arriving in the New World in the late
seventeenth century, tea became the symbol of the struggle between
independence-minded colonists and their British oppressors,
sparking the revolution that birthed the United States. Tea has
always had the tendency to arouse passions.
Although prized for its astringent taste and refreshing energy
boost, tea has also been long valued for its medicinal properties. It
has been used to settle the digestive system, treat infections, soothe
pain, and overcome fatigue. Recent scientic studies have
documented tea’s health-promoting eects in conditions ranging
from dental cavities to cancer.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The bush from which we obtain tea leaves can grow wild to thirty
feet in height, but the cultivated evergreen plants are usually
trimmed to stand below six feet. The ner teas use only the two
young top leaves and bud. Green tea leaves are picked and allowed
to wither in the hot air, then panfried to stop the fermentation
process. Oolong tea is derived from leaves that are shaken and
bruised and allowed to partially oxidize until the edges of the leaves
turn red. Black teas are allowed to ferment in cool, humid rooms
until the entire leaf darkens. These dierent processes alter both the
avor and chemical content of the teas.
Tea leaves contain many compounds including avonoids,
polysaccharides, and various vitamins, but it is the polyphenols that
seem to be the most potent therapeutic phytochemicals. Originally
known as tea tannins, polyphenols make up about one-quarter of
fresh dried green tea leaves. The polyphenols in tea are known as
catechins, and include gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin,
epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). These
catechins are potent antioxidants and appear to play a role in
protecting the body from cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The
EGCG polyphenol component comprises almost sixty percent of the
total catechins present in tea and seems to have the greatest health
promoting impact. The darker the tea, the lower the content of
antioxidizing polyphenols available in the leaves.
THE SCIENCE OF TEA
One cup of tea has the antioxidant activity of ten glasses of apple
juice or three glasses of orange juice.1 A group from the National
Institute of Nutrition in Italy found that the antioxidant capacity of
green tea is six times that of black tea.2 Interestingly, when human
subjects took their tea with milk, the antioxidant eect of both the
green and black varieties was reduced.
Laboratory studies on tea or tea components have shown potential
benets in the suppression of cancer growth. In mice given
carcinogenic chemicals, tea improved their immune cells’ ability to
identify and eliminate potentially malignant cells.3 In laboratory
cultures of tumor cells, green tea extracts showed potent inhibition
of cancer cell growth.4 Both green and black tea have been found to
inhibit DNA reproduction and promote the demise of tumor cells.5
Studies looking at the relationship between tea drinkers and
cancer in people have generally suggested a protective eect from
tea. Japanese women who regularly drank tea before developing
breast cancer had signicantly reduced recurrences and improved
outcomes.6 The incidence of prostate cancer in Chinese men is the
lowest in the world and correlated with their tea intake, suggests
that green tea may confer some protection against this common
malignancy in men.7 The risk of colon cancer may be slightly
reduced in green tea drinkers, while the risk of lung cancer may be
slightly elevated in black tea drinkers who also smoke.8 Overall, the
polyphenols present in green tea seem to have a cancer-protecting
eect, although it is not clear how long and how much one has to
drink to gain the benet.
Tea has also been associated with a reduction in coronary heart
disease. Animal studies have shown that tea has a mild cholesterol-
lowering eect, although this has been harder to demonstrate in
people.9–11 Studies from around the world have suggested that tea
drinkers have lower blood pressure and fewer coronary heart
attacks, and live longer.12–14 Not every report has conrmed this
advantage, raising the possibility that people who take their tea
with milk do not derive the same benet as those who take their tea
alone.15
Other therapeutic eects of tea have been reported, including the
prevention of dental cavities, accelerated weight loss in dieters, and
reduced digestive symptoms in people with inammatory bowel
disease.16–18 Tea has known antibacterial properties, which are
greater in green tea and lesser in black. This may in part explain its
traditional use in the treatment of infectious dysentery. In addition
to providing refreshment, this ancient herbal brew has many
potential therapeutic benets.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF TEA
Although green tea tablets are now available, the best way to
partake of this helpful herb is to savor a cup of tea. Green tea and
oolong are usually consumed alone or with a little sweetener, but
not with milk or lemon. The blacker the tea, the greater the
tendency to add milk, but this may reduce its medicinal value. For a
delicious treat, try a cup of masala chai, prepared by mixing
cardamom seeds, cloves, fresh ginger, and a black peppercorn with
tea and milk. Sweeten to taste for an afternoon pick-me-up.
HOW TO USE TEA
High-quality green, oolong, and black teas are readily available
from specialty grocers, coee shops, and Asian food stores. Although
ve to six cups of tea a day are often consumed in China and Japan,
one or two cups of green tea will provide a hefty dose of
polyphenols without charging you up with caeine.
Use one cup of boiling water per one teaspoon of loose tea, and
steep for ve minutes before sipping slowly. You can make iced
green tea by placing two teaspoons per cup of cold water and
brewing the mixture in a closed jar placed in the refrigerator for a
couple of hours. Powdered green tea tablets and capsules are
available in doses equivalent to up to ten cups of tea, but we prefer
the more natural infusion.
AYURVEDA AND TEA
Tea carries the bitter and astringent tastes, and has a cooling
inuence on the physiology. It is balancing to Pitta and Kapha, but
can be aggravating to Vata.
PRECAUTIONS
Adverse reactions to tea are exceedingly rare. Owing to its caeine
content, it can produce nervousness and insomnia in sensitive
individuals. The caeine content diers by the type of tea; green tea
(8–36 milligrams) contains less than oolong (12–55 milligrams),
which has less than black tea (25–110 milligrams). By comparison, a
cup of coee has 100 to 160 milligrams, while a can of Diet Coke
has 46 milligrams of caeine. Heavy tea drinkers can experience
caeine withdrawal headaches if they suddenly discontinue their
intake.
Two medical complications of tea drinking have recently been
reported. In one, a sixty-one-year-old woman developed a low
potassium blood level leading to irregularities in her heart rate after
drinking two to three liters of oolong tea per day.19 In another case,
a man taking blood thinners began drinking up to a gallon of green
tea on a daily basis. The blood thinning eects of the medication
were neutralized, presumably due to the high dose of vitamin K he
was receiving from the tea.20 These are both extreme examples but
highlight that even though something is derived from natural
sources it can cause problems if used inappropriately. Used in a
balanced way, this ancient beverage can be a health-promoting ally.
W
CASSIA ANGUSTIFOLIA
FAMILIAR: senna
LATIN: Cassia angustifolia, Cassia acutifolia, Cassia
senna
SANSKRIT: rajavriksha, markandika
ith several hundred known species of Cassia, traditional
medicinal cultures around the world have recognized the
potent laxative eects of senna. Native to northern Africa,
senna is now grown on most continents and is one of the most
popular bowel agents in the world. Used appropriately, senna is an
eective bowel stimulant that can get sluggish bowels moving
without serious side eects. However, if you feel the need to use a
laxative on a regular basis, look to your diet for ways to improve
your digestive function before resorting to an herbal stimulant.
Well known to both Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine,
senna’s traditional therapeutic properties have extended beyond its
actions on the digestive tract. In Ayurveda, senna has been used in
the treatment of chronic inammatory skin disorders, premenstrual
symptoms, and high blood pressure. In traditional Chinese medicine,
senna is useful in balancing excessive heat in the liver and as a
treatment for cardiovascular disorders.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The medicinal herb is derived from the dried leaves or pods of this
three-foot high bushy plant. Stems have between ve and ten pairs
of leaves and small yellow owers. The slightly curved pods are
harvested in the fall. The powdered pods produce a gentler laxative
response than the leaves.
The laxative eect of senna is due to its content of anthraquinone
chemicals, which stimulate the digestive tract to contract and alter
the transport of uids and salts across the intestinal lining. The
primary anthraquinones identied in senna are named sennoside A
and B. These are closely related to similar compounds found in
castor oil, the latex of aloe vera, rhubarb, and Cascara sagrada.
Anthraquinones present in herbal products are converted into active
ingredients by normal bacteria in the colon. Once activated, these
chemicals have complex eects on intestinal cells, resulting in the
accumulation of salts and water in the gut and the stimulation of
colonic movement.1
THE SCIENCE OF SENNA
Senna is a moderately potent herbal laxative that has predictable
eects on the digestive tract. Ingested leaves or pods have minimal
eects until they reach the large intestines, where normal bacteria
metabolize the chemical constituents into active metabolic products.
These activated sennosides, called rhine anthrone and sennidins A
and B, interact with colon cells, resulting in the release of
prostaglandins. These prostaglandins, along with calcium, cause
water and salt to be secreted into the colon and stimulate the
contraction of intestinal muscle cells.2 The combined eects result
in more-liquid bowel movements. Constipation can be due to
inadequate dietary bulk and insucient uids. At appropriate doses,
senna restores normal consistency to bowel movements by
increasing the moisture in the colon, but when an excessive amount
of senna is taken, diarrhea can result.
Several studies have found senna to be a cost-eective treatment
for chronic constipation. In studies in elderly patients from both
Ireland and Finland, senna signicantly improved bowel function
with minimal side eects and at lower cost than lactulose, another
commonly used bowel agent.3, 4 Senna has also been found useful
for patients with constipation resulting from narcotic medication
use. Abdominal discomfort is common in cancer patients because
the opiate pain medicines they require often cause a slowdown in
digestive function. Senna has been shown to improve bowel
function in cancer patients on narcotic medication, but cramping
may be a limiting side eect.5, 6
People immobilized by illness or injury often experience sluggish
bowel function. Studies looking at the value of senna after major
surgery and childbirth have found it to be eective, with only minor
adverse eects.7, 8 Senna has also been shown useful in preparing
patients for surgery, with greater ecacy and fewer side eects than
other standard bowel agents.9
When used intermittently, senna is eective and generally well
tolerated. An important question is whether or not it is safe to use
senna on a consistent basis. Animal studies have shown that taking
senna in doses that induce diarrhea will eventually lead to uid and
salt imbalances, and its eectiveness in inducing bowel movements
diminishes.10 Animals do not seem to habituate to senna at the
lower doses that stimulate normal-consistency bowel movements. In
fact, some reports have suggested that appropriate doses of senna
may help to “reeducate” the bowels to function more regularly.11, 12
Although there may not be any serious complications to using senna
on a regular basis, from a holistic perspective we believe that it is
preferable to make the necessary diet and lifestyle changes rather
than rely on an herbal medicine to sustain a normal physiological
function.
Although the bulk of the attention on senna has focused on its
obvious digestive eects, studies have suggested that senna has
other potentially benecial health properties. A study in rats found
that a close cousin to senna signicantly reduced both cholesterol
and triglyceride levels without causing any serious negative
eects.13 Other studies have shown that the anthraquinones in
senna are potent antioxidants.14 Finally, both antiviral and
antibacterial properties of senna have been demonstrated.15, 16
THE PRACTICAL USE OF SENNA
Senna is a component of many digestive herbal products. The most
commonly available form of senna is a standardized extract,
Sennokot. After ingesting senna, a bowel movement usually occurs
within six to twelve hours. A dose taken at bedtime will therefore
usually act by the next morning. Some people are more sensitive to
senna than others, so if you are a rst-time user, allow enough time
for it to take eect, or you may nd yourself rushing to the
bathroom in the middle of an oce meeting.
Senna is not recommended for more than one week’s use
continuously. If you feel the need to use senna, rst take an honest
inventory of your diet and lifestyle. Are you eating enough fresh
fruits, vegetables, and whole grains? Are you getting adequate uids
in your diet? Are you getting enough exercise? If you can answer
yes to those questions and are still having diculty with
elimination, try using a bulk-forming digestive aid such as psyllium
or axseed before resorting to a stimulant laxative. If you have
experienced a signicant change in your bowel habits for no
obvious reason, discuss your situation with your health-care adviser
before embarking on a course of laxatives.
HOW TO USE SENNA
Most senna preparations are standardized to contain a predictable
quantity of sennosides. In Sennokot, each tablet delivers 8.6
milligrams of sennosides, with the usual dosage ranging from two to
four tablets at a time. Other preparations usually provide a specic
amount of dried senna leaves or pods, ranging from 150 to 450
milligrams. Standard doses are more dicult to get in herbal teas
containing senna. If you prefer to use a tea, become familiar with a
specic brand, and steep it a consistent amount of time to ensure a
reproducible response.
AYURVEDA AND SENNA
Senna is considered a laxative of moderate potency. With its bitter
and cooling eects on the physiology, it is pacifying to Pitta and
Kapha. Used excessively, it can be depleting and aggravating to
Vata. According to Ayurveda, the digestive tract should be prepared
before taking senna by eating lightly and increasing your intake of
oily foods such as sesame seeds or ghee (claried butter). This
“oleation” is said to ensure a smoother, more comfortable
elimination in response to the herbal laxative.
PRECAUTIONS
Although occasionally taking an herbal laxative is generally safe,
there are risks associated with regular usage. Radiologists have
described a pattern on colon X-rays associated with long-term
laxative use called “cathartic colon.” A recent report showed that
this pattern, which consists of dilated portions of the large intestines
and loss of the usual anatomic complexity, is occasionally seen in
people who chronically use senna, and may reect damage to the
colon and its nerve input.17
The possible role of senna use in development of colon cancer has
been studied for many years, and the general consensus is that there
is not an increased risk of cancer, even in chronic users of herbal
laxatives.18 A benign condition that has been associated with senna
is called melanosis coli.19 This describes a dark staining of the lining
of the colon that can be seen on internal colonoscopic examination.
Senna stimulates the accumulation of pigment in the colon, which
usually becomes apparent within a year of regular laxative use. If
senna is discontinued, the pigmentation gradually fades over the
course of about a year. Although this condition has been known for
over thirty years, it has not been associated with any clinical
problems.
Senna is usually considered to be among the safer laxatives in
women who are breastfeeding, for only a small portion is absorbed
and enters the bloodstream.20 Studies have shown that metabolic
products of senna do enter the breast milk but at levels of about one
one-thousandth those of the mother.21 The occasional use of senna
probably causes no measurable harm to the infant, but should raise
the question of what more can be done to normalize digestive
function through appropriate diet and lifestyle choices.
G
CENTELLA ASIATICA
FAMILIAR: gotu kola
LATIN: Centella asiatica
SANSKRIT: brahmi
otu kola, also known as Indian pennywort, carries two
dierent Latin names, Centella asiatica and Hydrocotyle
asiatica, both referring to the same plant. Its name in
Sanskrit, brahmi, means consciousness or wisdom. In India several
dierent botanical specimens have been named brahmi, for their
inuence on improving memory and clarifying thinking. The most
widely available form of brahmi, gotu kola is one of the most
important plants in Ayurveda. It is used for a wide spectrum of
illnesses ranging from indigestion to dementia. Native to India, it
can now be found throughout the world including the southern
United States.
Described in the original Ayurvedic textbooks several thousand
years ago, gotu kola was also known to Chinese physicians for its
ability to promote longevity. It carries a long-standing reputation as
a wound healer and brain enhancer. Gotu kola has gained a recent
following in the West among students, who believe it can improve
their ability to retain information while preparing for examinations.
Although gotu kola has a long history of enhancing cognitive
function, it has thus far received scarce scientic attention in this
area.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Gotu kola is a perennial creeping plant with distinctive leaves that
look like open Japanese fans. It grows throughout India, preferring
marshlands, where it has ready access to fresh water. The trailing
herb bears small white owers and lays down roots along its stems.
The leaves, which can be eaten fresh, are harvested throughout the
year. Dried aerial parts are used internally and as an external
poultice.
Gotu kola is a chemically complex herb that contains many
dierent components including alkaloids, glycosides, sterols, and
tannins. Unique substances identied as brahmoside and
brahminoside may account for its calming eect. Other chemical
constituents in gotu kola have antibiotic and wound-healing
properties.
THE SCIENCE OF GOTU KOLA
Although gotu kola is best known in India as a mind tonic, most
research has centered on its ability to facilitate the healing of
wounds. Creams and ointments containing gotu kola extract have
been shown to hasten wound healing and improved the strength of
the scar that forms.1 A component of gotu kola increases the
synthesis of collagen, enabling wounds to heal faster and better.
Taking advantage of these qualities, gotu kola has been used to help
heal skin ulcers, traumatic injuries, and surgical wounds.
Taken internally, gotu kola has been shown eective in reducing
leg edema in people with chronic venous insuciency.2 It reduces
pain, cramping, and swelling without any serious side eects. It may
also provide some value in shrinking varicose veins.
Gotu kola’s value in a number of other health concerns is just
beginning to be explored scientically. Reports have suggested that
it may be helpful in herpes infections, cancer, and stomach ulcers,
but more research is needed. Despite its accepted role in Ayurveda
as an herb to enhance mental function, the only scientic study to
look at this issue was performed over thirty years ago in mentally
disabled children.3 Researchers reported that those who took gotu
kola for twelve weeks had better attention and concentration ability.
Further studies are clearly indicated on this potentially important
property.
Another herb that has traditionally been called brahmi has the
Latin name Bacopa monniera. It has recently become available in the
West, with reports indicating that it inuences brain
neurotransmitter levels and has potent antioxidant activity.4 These
eects may help explain its common usage in India to improve
memory and treat insomnia and anxiety. An animal study has shown
that brahmi signicantly enhances both memory and performance.5
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GOTU KOLA
Gotu kola is valued for its purifying and balancing inuence. We
recommend gotu kola when people are having diculty
concentrating because of mental turbulence. The combination of a
meditation practice and gotu kola can eectively reduce anxiety and
improve mental clarity. It combines well with chamomile or
valerian for a gentle sleep aid.
Gotu kola tea is prescribed for headaches, particularly when a
person is detoxifying from alcohol or caeine. We often prescribe
gotu kola as a general rejuvenative herb for people recovering from
illness or surgery. Herbalized brahmi oil is applied to the skin to
soothe irritations and is taken as nose drops to calm an agitated
mind.
HOW TO USE GOTU KOLA
As a tea, steep one teaspoon of dried gotu kola leaves in a cup of
boiling water. Sweetened with honey, it can be sipped before bed to
induce a deep, restful sleep. A cup of tea can also be helpful in
relieving headache or indigestion from overeating or a poor diet.
As a paste for skin conditions, combine one-quarter cup of dried
gotu kola leaves with one-quarter cup of chamomile, and steep in
one-half cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Strain and blend the
liquid with cornstarch to make a thick paste. Apply lightly for relief
of irritated skin. Rinse o the paste with room-temperature water
once it has dried. As an oil for itchy and irritated skin, boil one-half
cup of dried brahmi leaves in two cups of water until the volume is
reduced by half. Remove the leaves and add one cup of almond or
sesame oil and slowly boil o the water until you are left with the
herbalized oil. This can be used for local skin or muscular concerns
as well as for a general massage. Dried gotu kola is usually available
in one-third- to one-half-gram tablets or capsules. The standard dose
is 1 to 2 grams daily to improve memory.
AYURVEDA AND GOTU KOLA
Brahmi has many uses in Ayurveda. In addition to its role in
memory, it is commonly prescribed to reduce fever, treat eczema,
and relieve respiratory congestion. It has a mild laxative and
diuretic eect, and plays a traditional role as a blood purier.
Taking advantage of its wound-healing properties, women are
encouraged to soak in brahmi sitz baths after giving birth, to soothe
irritated tissues.
Gotu kola is bitter, pungent, and sweet in taste, and cooling to the
body. It can be useful in balancing all three doshas, but is
particularly eective for Pitta-aggravated nervous systems.
PRECAUTIONS
Care must be taken when applying gotu kola topically, as it can
occasionally cause an allergic dermatitis. In very high doses it may
aggravate rather than relieve headaches.
CIMICIFUGA RACEMOSA
FAMILIAR: black cohosh
LATIN: Cimicifuga racemosa
lack cohosh is a traditional Native American herb that has been
employed in the treatment of women’s health issues for thousands of
Byears. It was called squawroot by North American Indians for
its reputation in easing the pains of childbirth. Although
originally a component of the American pharmacopoeia,
black cohosh fell out of favor in the 1930s when a paper disputed its
ecacy.1 Despite its abandonment by American medical doctors,
black cohosh has been accepted by European physicians for the past
half-century. Over one and a half million German women have
safely used black cohosh, and the German Commission E has
approved it for the treatment of menstrual complaints and
menopausal symptoms. After being ignored for over sixty years,
black cohosh is again gaining in popularity in the United States.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Black cohosh, native to the eastern half of North America, can be
found from Canada to Florida. It has elongated, serrated leaves and
produces spires with clusters of tiny white owers. The roots are
harvested in the fall from this perennial shrub that grows to about
six feet in height. Black cohosh is now widely cultivated in Europe,
where its roots are collected and dried.
Black cohosh contains a number of glycosides, avonoids, and
terpenes. It also contains tannins and salycilates. Although the
active constituents have not been fully characterized, the most
popular proprietary form of black cohosh, known as Remifemin, is
standardized to contain two milligrams of a chemical, 27-
deoxyacetein. Some studies have suggested that black cohosh has
estrogenic eects, but the chemicals responsible for its hormonal
properties still need to be identied.
THE SCIENCE OF BLACK COHOSH
Several studies over the past forty years have evaluated the eects
of black cohosh on menopausal symptoms. A German study
evaluated the benets of black cohosh in over six hundred
menopausal women and reported that almost 80 percent noticed
some type of improvement in their symptoms, with very rare side
eects.2 Other studies have found that black cohosh improves both
the physical and psychological symptoms of women going through
menopause as soon as one month after starting the herb.3, 4 A
German study in eighty women found that those taking black
cohosh had less anxiety, fewer hot ashes, and improved vaginal
tissue.5 When compared with a standard estrogen replacement drug,
those taking black cohosh reported better relief of menopausal
symptoms without substantial side eects. Another German report
found that over 40 percent of women taking hormone replacement
for the treatment of hot ashes were able to reduce or eliminate
their medication.6
The question of how black cohosh relieves menopausal symptoms
has not yet been answered. It has been suggested that it acts as a
phytoestrogen, and in some studies components have been shown to
bind to estrogen receptors and inuence the release of pituitary
hormones.7 Other reports, however, have not been able to show a
denite estrogen-like eect on the uterus.8 How black cohosh works
to decrease the hot ashes and psychological symptoms of
menopause is not just an academic question, for if it does act as a
natural estrogen, it is important to determine the optimal dose, how
long it should be taken, and if there are any long-term side eects.
Does black cohosh have any role in the prevention of osteoporosis
or heart disease? Although one study in animals suggested that
black cohosh could improve bone density, this property has not
been evaluated in women.9 From a scientic perspective, we know
that black cohosh improves the short-term physical and mental
symptoms of menopause, but we do not know its long-term eects.
Most reports emphasize black cohosh’s safety, particularly in
comparison with standard hormone replacement therapy.10
Although black cohosh has other traditional uses, including
treatment for premenstrual syndrome, arthritis, and high blood
pressure, the scientic basis of these claims is limited. A study from
the 1960s suggested that black cohosh could dilate blood vessels
and lower blood pressure, but there has not been recent
conrmation of this eect.11 Other reports have listed both anti-
inammatory and blood-sugar-lowering properties of black cohosh,
but the clinical application of those laboratory ndings remains to
be explored.12, 13
THE PRACTICAL USE OF BLACK COHOSH
Black cohosh is eective in treating the hot ashes associated with
menopause. It may also have some value in dampening the
emotional ups and downs that are often associated with the
physiological changes of midlife. At this time we do not know if
black cohosh provides protection against osteoporosis or heart
disease. If you are taking black cohosh in lieu of estrogen
replacement, be certain to get enough calcium in your diet (1,500
milligrams per day) and perform regular weight-bearing and aerobic
exercise.
Traditionally, black cohosh has been useful in the treatment of a
wide range of women’s health concerns. It may help to reduce the
congestion, breast tenderness, and irritability associated with the
hormonal changes preceding menstruation. Believed capable of
reducing menstrual cramping, black cohosh was also recommended
during childbirth, where it was used to regulate uterine
contractions. Although this property has not been scientically
veried, black cohosh should be avoided during pregnancy because
of its potential stimulatory eects on the uterus.
In addition to its role in women’s health, black cohosh has been
promoted for the treatment of joint and muscle pain. Native
American healers have used black cohosh for its anti-inammatory
eects, possibly a result of its aspirin-like salicylate compounds.
Black cohosh has also been traditionally employed in the treatment
of asthma, where its relaxant properties are believed to reduce
airway restriction. These many traditional healing properties of
black cohosh are clearly worthy of further scientic exploration.
HOW TO USE BLACK COHOSH
Black cohosh is readily available in health-food stores, in tablets and
extracts. Most American herbal companies are following the lead of
European brands, oering tablets standardized to contain 2.5
percent tripertene glycosides. As noted above, the most popular
form of black cohosh in Europe, Remifemin, contains a standard 2
milligrams of 27-deoxyacetein. Extracts of black cohosh are also
increasingly available. The usual dose is two tablets or forty drops of
a standardized liquid extract twice daily. Some formulas combine
black cohosh with St. John’s wort to provide greater mood-
stabilizing benet.
AYURVEDA AND BLACK COHOSH
The ancient Ayurvedic physicians did not know black cohosh, but it
can be analyzed according to Ayurvedic principles. It carries the
bitter and pungent tastes, and has a cooling inuence on the
physiology. It can balance both Pitta and Kapha, and may aggravate
Vata after prolonged use.
PRECAUTIONS
Black cohosh has a long history of safety. The German Commission
E suggests it may cause occasional stomach discomfort and does not
recommend its use for longer than six months. Black cohosh is not
to be taken during pregnancy.
M
COLEUS FORSKOHLII
FAMILIAR: forskolin, coleus
LATIN: Coleus forskphlii
SANSKRIT: pashanbhedi, balaka
embers of the coleus species are familiar as popular
colorful houseplants, but the little-known perennial Coleus
forskohlii made pharmacological history when it was
discovered to have unique medicinal properties. Native to the
subtropical zones of
India, Nepal, and Thailand, coleus has a long traditional history of
benet in the treatment of respiratory problems, heart ailments, and
skin conditions. In the early 1970s we learned that many of the
therapeutic eects of coleus result from its content of a unique
substance, forskolin. This chemical increases the cellular levels of
cyclic AMP (cAMP), one of the most elementary compounds of life.
This compound is intricately involved in our most basic biological
functions, from the regulation of blood pressure to the response of
the immune system. Since its discovery, over twelve thousand
scientic articles have appeared, investigating the eects of
forskolin on cellular physiology. This member of the mint family is
demonstrating potentially far-reaching clinical applications.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The Coleus forskohlii plant grows on temperate mountain slopes
between one thousand and six thousand feet. The small shrub grows
to about two feet in height, with new plants easily propagated by
stem cuttings. The paired alternate fragrant leaves are commonly
cultivated as a pickling spice in the Gujarat district of India.
Flowers, leaves, and stems all contain forskolin, with the tuberous
roots and stem base containing the highest concentrations.1
A number of diterpenoids have been identied in coleus, of which
forskolin has received the most attention. Forskolin activates the
enzyme adenylate cyclase, which increases the formation of cAMP.2
Increased concentrations of cAMP within cells leads to the
relaxation of smooth muscles, and diminishes allergic and
inammatory responses.3, 4 All the clinical eects of coleus cannot
be fully accounted for by changes in cAMP or the chemical
forskolin, but the other important active plant constituents have not
yet been identied.
THE SCIENCE OF COLEUS
Forskolin has been most studied in the treatment of cardiovascular
diseases and asthma. Animal studies have shown that forskolin can
improve the eciency of heart muscle contractions and lower blood
pressure by relaxing the muscles that control blood vessel tone.5
These eects have been shown to be clinically benecial in patients
with cardiac failure, whose hearts responded to intravenous
forskolin by pumping more strongly without consuming more
energy.6 Forskolin’s ability to inhibit the tendency of platelets to
clump together could provide additional benet in reducing
coronary blood vessel blockages.7 The importance of these ndings
in the prevention and treatment of heart disease remains to be fully
explored through further research.
Forskolin has also been shown to reduce the tendency for the
respiratory passages to go into spasm, making it a potentially useful
remedy for asthma. Animal studies have shown forskolin to reduce
the allergic response to substances that trigger the closing of small
airways in the lungs.8, 9 The applicability of these ndings to people
has been supported in studies that have compared forskolin extract
to standard asthma pharmaceuticals. Inhaled doses of forskolin in
asthmatic patients improved their breathing function without the
usual jittery side eects associated with asthma medications.10–12
The improvement seemed to result from relaxation of the smooth
muscles that regulate the size of the airways. The question that still
needs to be answered is whether coleus taken orally has as
substantial a benet as inhaled forskolin in patients with reactive
airway disease.
Forskolin has been tested in other conditions with promising but,
at times, mixed results. Animal studies have shown that forskolin
eye drops reduce the pressure in the eyes, suggesting that it may
have a role in the treatment of glaucoma.13 This action has been
tested in people, with some reports showing a benet and others
not.14–16 Taking advantage of its ability to dilate blood vessels,
researchers have tested forskolin in the treatment of male impotence
and found it potentially useful in both animals and humans without
signicant side eects.17
Preliminary studies have suggested that forskolin may also have
antidepressant and cancer ghting properties.18, 19
The diverse potentially therapeutic eects of forskolin reect its
ability to inuence one of the most basic biochemicals of life, cyclic
AMP. The traditional healers of India and Nepal recognized
forskolin’s value in disorders of circulation, breathing, and
digestion. Medical science is just beginning to explore the full range
of therapeutic applications of this unassuming member of the mint
family.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF FORSKOLIN
Most people will not have access to pharmaceutically pure forskolin
that can be inhaled, injected, or applied to the eyes. Standardized
powdered extracts for oral consumption are increasingly available,
derived from the dried leaves or roots of the Coleus forskohlii plant.
The traditional use of Coleus forskohlii for respiratory and circulatory
disorders usually involved ingesting a strong infusion of ground
roots and leaves several times per day. A paste of the powdered herb
applied directly to the skin has also been used for eczema and
infections.
Before ingesting forskolin for its lung or circulatory eects,
discuss its use with a health-care provider who is familiar with this
herb and can closely monitor your response. Do not mix forskolin
with prescribed medications.
HOW TO USE FORSKOLIN
Coleus forskohlii products available in the West are usually
standardized to contain between 0.25 percent and 1 percent
forskolin. Tablets provide between 1 and 5 milligrams per dose. The
usual recommended daily intake is 3 to 15 milligrams in three
divided doses. The eects of forskolin are rapid and short-acting, so,
if you are taking it for a specic health concern, such as mild
asthma or elevated blood pressure, you will know within a week
whether or not it is providing benet for your condition.
AYURVEDA AND FORSKOLIN
The predominant taste of forskolin is bitter, with a secondary weak
astringency. It has a cooling eect on the physiology. This herb is
pacifying to Pitta and Kapha. It can be mildly aggravating to Vata if
used for a prolonged time.
PRECAUTIONS
No serious adverse reactions have been reported with forskolin, and
animal studies have suggested that it is well tolerated. Since studies
evaluating interactions with pharmaceutical agents have not been
performed, we do not advise mixing forskolin with asthma or blood
pressure medications unless you are under the supervision of a
knowledgeable health-care adviser.
G
COMMIPHORA MUKUL
FAMILIAR: guggulu, gum gugal
LATIN: Commiphora mukul
SANSKRIT: Guggulu
uggulu is one of Ayurveda’s most important purifying herbs.
It cleanses unhealthy tissues, increases the white blood cell
count, and rejuvenates the skin. Traditionally it has been
considered the consummate blood detoxier, useful in any condition
characterized by congestion or stagnation. Derived from the resin of
a small tree native to India, guggulu is a close relative of myrrh, one
of the gifts oered to the baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
Guggulu was well known to the Ayurvedic sages Charaka and
Sushruta. In the original texts from over two thousand years ago,
guggulu was recommended to clear the sinuses of congestion,
relieve chronic skin disorders, treat obesity, shrink swollen glands,
and cool inamed joints. It is fascinating how medical science is
now validating many of the traditional uses for this ancient herbal
medicine.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The guggulu tree grows to about ten feet high in both northern and
southern India as well as regions of the Middle East. The medicinal
substance is a yellowish resin exuded when the inner bark of the
tree is injured. The resin is usually harvested in the winter from
branches that have dropped their leaves.
The resin obtained from guggulu trees contains several dierent
chemical compounds that can be extracted with organic solvents.
These soluble portions have documented anti-inammatory and
cholesterol-lowering properties. Most current herbal formulas of
guggulu contain standardized amounts of the cholesterol-lowering
constituents, known as guggulsterones. Most studies on guggulu
have used a 2.5 percent extract of guggulsterones standardized to a
50-milligram dose. This extract is commonly referred to as
gugulipid. Other important components of guggulu, including
organic acids and sterols, seem to possess anti-inammatory
activity.
THE SCIENCE OF GUGGULU
Scientic research has focused on two main properties of guggulu:
its ability to lower serum cholesterol levels and its anti-
inammatory eect. Sushruta extolled guggulu’s penetrating
properties, used to dissolve the deposition of ama (toxins) in the
channels of circulation. The development of atherosclerosis, known
as medoroga in Ayurveda, encompassed much of our modern
understanding of this illness. According to Ayurveda, eating
excessively rich foods and not getting enough exercise leads to an
accumulation of fat in the blood that eventually builds up and
obstructs the srotas, or channels of circulation. Guggulu helps to
prevent and reverse this process by stimulating digestion and
clearing fat from the blood.
Studies dating back to the late 1960s suggested that taking
guggulu could result in signicant reductions in blood levels of
cholesterol and triglycerides.1 More-recent reports have conrmed
these preliminary ndings in both animals and people. Researchers
in India found that men taking 50 milligrams of gugulipid twice a
day for six months had about a 12-percent drop in their cholesterol
levels.2 Side eects in a few patients included mild headache,
nausea, and stomach gas, but over 95 percent of subjects took the
herb regularly without diculty.
In another study, gugulipid was compared to a standard
cholesterol-lowering drug, clobrate, in over two hundred patients
with raised cholesterol or triglyceride levels. Gugulipid was more
eective than clobrate in patients with high cholesterol, slightly
less eective in patients with high triglycerides, and equivalent in
people with elevations in both. Perhaps most important, patients
taking gugulipid had elevations in their HDL cholesterol levels, the
so-called good cholesterol component.3
In addition to its cholesterol-lowering activity, guggulu reduces
the stickiness of platelets,4 the blood components that stop us from
bleeding when we cut ourselves, but that also contribute to
undesired clotting of blood vessels. The combination of guggulu’s
fat-lowering properties and its ability to slightly thin the blood
makes it a desirable substance to reduce the risk of heart disease
and stroke.
Guggulu’s other important medicinal eect is its ability to reduce
inammation. It holds an established place in the Ayurvedic
pharmacy as a rst-line treatment for arthritis. Animal studies
comparing guggulu to established anti-inammatory medicines such
as ibuprofen and phenylbutazone showed that guggulu was equally
eective in reducing joint swelling.5 The anti-inammatory benet
of guggulu has also been found useful in the treatment of acne. In a
study comparing guggulu to the antibiotic tetracycline, guggulu was
slightly more eective, particularly in people with oily skin.6
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GUGGULU
Traditionally, many therapeutic properties are attributed to
guggulu. It has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of
obesity, where it is believed to stimulate the digestion of stored
toxins. It can be applied directly to festering skin sores, including
acne lesions. As a mouthwash, guggulu can be helpful in the
treatment of canker sores and gingivitis. Wherever there is a
condition of stagnation, guggulu’s penetrating properties can clear
away the toxins.
We use guggulu liberally at the Chopra Center in people who have
accumulated toxicity from signicant life stresses. People who are
recovering from serious illnesses, who have required prolonged
courses of antibiotics, or who have recently stopped using
recreational drugs or alcohol benet from guggulu’s detoxifying
properties.
In people with elevated cholesterol levels, guggulu can be an
initial approach before resorting to the more potent cholesterol-
lowering drugs. Although it is traditionally used in the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis, we have found guggulu to be most helpful in
relieving the discomfort of people with nonspecic pain. Myofascial
pain syndrome, bromyalgia, and rheumatism are conditions that
often respond to the cleansing activity of guggulu.
A combination of guggulu and Triphala is helpful in strengthening
digestive power. The mixture is particularly benecial when
someone has both weak digestion and irregular elimination. We use
a suspension of guggulu as a gargle for sore throats, mouth sores,
and gingivitis. A crushed tablet mixed with warm water is swished
in the mouth or gargled several times daily until the soreness
resolves.
HOW TO USE GUGGULU
Guggulu is now readily available through several herbal producers.
Since most studies have found that 25 milligrams of guggulsterones
three times daily is eective in reducing elevated cholesterol levels,
be certain that you are receiving this amount. Some formulations
list the total guggulu content, which should be at least 500
milligrams per tablet. For the treatment of rheumatic conditions, try
taking two tablets three times a day after meals. You should see a
response within two weeks.
As a gargle or mouthwash, crush a tablet in one-half cup of warm
water and use three times daily. This same mixture can be applied
to supercial skin wounds to facilitate healing.
AYURVEDA AND GUGGULU
As one of Ayurveda’s primary detoxifying substances, guggulu is
benecial in a wide range of conditions. A complex herb, carrying
four of the six tastes—bitter, pungent, astringent, and sweet—it is
especially eective for stabilizing Vata and Kapha imbalances
without irritating Pitta. Whenever there is an accumulation of
toxicity in the system, guggulu can be a powerful aid to digesting
and eliminating it.
PRECAUTIONS
Guggulu is slightly heating and is occasionally associated with mild
digestive discomfort. In view of its role in reducing platelet
stickiness, it should not be used in patients receiving blood-thinning
medications.
W
CRATAEGUS OXYACANTHA
FAMILIAR: hawthorn, May blossom
LATIN: Crataegus oxyacantha
ell known to European healers of medieval times,
hawthorn was identied as a sacred herb, supposed to be
the source of Christ’s crown of thorns. During the
fourteenth century, the unusual smell of hawthorn berries became
associated with the bubonic plague, and for the next two hundred
years it was avoided as a healing aid. By the 1600s, hawthorn
regained its reputation as an important herbal rejuvenative through
the writings of the famous English herbalist Nicholas Culpeper.
Traditionally used as a treatment for urinary tract problems, it came
to be known by Western herbalists as an important cardiac tonic.
Modern scientic studies have conrmed the circulatory benets of
the bright red berries and owering tops of this familiar tree, now
found throughout the temperate zones of Europe, North America,
and Asia.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
A member of the rose family, the deciduous hawthorn tree, with its
sharp thorns, can grow to heights of thirty feet. It blooms in small
white owers with roselike petals during the spring, accounting for
one of hawthorn’s common names, May blossom. The owers give
rise to small red berries with one or two seeds. The dried berries
have traditionally been the source of the herbal medicine, although
active phytochemicals have also been identied in the owers and
leaves.
A wide range of chemical constituents is present in hawthorn,
including polysaccharides, amines, tannins, phytosterols, and
organic acids. Most scientic attention has focused on hawthorn’s
avonoid components, particularly quercetin, rutin, and the
proanthocyanidins, also known as procyanidins. Also abundant in
grape seeds, pine bark, cranberries, beans, and bran,
proanthocyanidins have potent antioxidant properties and
protective eects on collagen tissue. According to some reports,
proanthocyanidins are more potent neutralizers of free radicals than
the antioxidant vitamins C and E.1 The proanthocyanidins identied
in hawthorn include catechin and epicatechin, also present in green
tea and red wine. These and other natural chemicals in hawthorn
contribute to its benecial eects on cardiovascular health.
THE SCIENCE OF HAWTHORN
There are several possible ways in which hawthorn may contribute
to cardiac health. It has a mild blood-pressure-lowering eect,
believed due to its ability to block the enzyme that activates the
chemical, angiotensin, a substance that constricts blood vessels and
induces the kidney to retain salt.2 Many modern blood pressure
medicines act by blocking this angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE); these are known as ACE inhibitors.
Hawthorn has also been found eective in lowering blood
cholesterol levels and strengthening the collagen component of
connective tissues.3, 4 These combined eects can slow the
development of atherosclerosis in heart blood vessels that leads to
heart attacks. Some of the most interesting studies on hawthorn
have found that it can reduce the damage sustained by heart tissue
as a result of blocked coronary arteries.5, 6 These heart-protecting
eects of hawthorn are mainly due to the free radical–neutralizing
properties of the abundant proanthocyanidins it contains.7
Hawthorn may also help dilate coronary blood vessels, allowing for
greater oxygen and energy delivery to the heart.8 In addition to
limiting the amount of heart muscle that is injured, hawthorn
reduces the risk of serious heart rhythm irregularities triggered by
inadequate blood ow.9
A number of reports from Europe have shown that the diverse
eects of hawthorn on the circulatory system can be of benet to
people with heart disease. In one study of seventy-eight patients
with chronic heart failure, those taking a daily dose of hawthorn
extract had a lowering of their blood pressure, a reduction in their
heart rate, and a signicant improvement in their exercise
tolerance.10 Another report, from Germany, evaluated 136 people
with heart failure and found that both objective and subjective
measurements of cardiac function improved.11 Measurements of
cardiac function improved, and people reported a better quality of
life.
Hawthorn is generally very well tolerated by heart patients
without serious side eects. Considering its low toxicity and many
positive actions, it is clearly worthy of further scientic research to
clarify its rightful place in the treatment of heart disease, the most
pressing health concern of our age.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF HAWTHORN
In European countries, hawthorn is often prescribed by physicians in
the treatment of mild heart conditions, characterized by nonspecic
fatigue, exercise intolerance, and occasional palpitations. It is best
viewed as a tonic that must be taken daily for several weeks before
a noticeable benet is seen. Hawthorn may have a mild sedative
eect, adding to its value in stress-exacerbated conditions.
If you have a diagnosed heart condition, be certain to discuss the
use of hawthorn with your health-care provider before using it. Do
not abruptly discontinue any of your current heart medicines
without the approval of, and close monitoring by, your doctor.
HOW TO USE HAWTHORN
Hawthorn is widely available in a variety of preparations, including
tablets of dried berries, tinctures, and ower extracts. Dried-berry
tablets or capsules containing approximately 500 milligrams are the
most common forms obtainable in the United
States. Extracts standardized to contain 1 to 3 percent vitexin, one
of the isolated avonoids in hawthorn, are also available. The usual
dose is .5 gram to 1 gram of the dried berries twice daily.
In Germany, most hawthorn is in the form of a water-ethanol
extract of the leaves and owers. The dose recommended by the
German Commission E is 160 to 900 milligrams per day,
corresponding to 3.5 to 20 milligrams of avonoids. Standardized
extracts available here usually contain about 1.8 milligrams of
avonoids, so two to four tablets daily will provide a dosage within
the suggested range.
AYURVEDA AND HAWTHORN
Although not recognized in the ancient Ayurvedic formularies,
hawthorn’s eects on the doshas can be understood by looking at its
basic properties. The predominant tastes of hawthorn berries are
sour, bitter, and sweet. It has a mildly heating potency on the
physiology. Hawthorn is pacifying to Vata and neutral to Pitta, but
may be aggravating to Kapha in high dosages.
PRECAUTIONS
Hawthorn is a generally safe herbal nutritional substance. Studies
from the early 1980s reported very low toxicity in animals.12
Despite the fact that hawthorn is well tolerated, it should be used
cautiously by people with heart ailments. Studies assessing its
interactions with standard cardiac drugs have not been performed.
It is generally not recommended for women who are pregnant or
breastfeeding.
CURCURMA LONGA
FAMILIAR: turmeric
LATIN: Curcurma longa
SANSKRIT: haridra
T
his beautiful yellow spice belongs to the same family as ginger.
Known primarily as a culinary herb in the West, turmeric
holds an established position in healing systems around the
world, including India, China, and the Polynesian islands. It
is a component of most curry powder blends and contributes
to the yellow color of many mustard preparations. Used as a
cosmetic agent in ancient India, it was known to heal the skin as
well as provide a lustrous golden glow.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Culinary and medicinal turmeric is derived from the rhizomes of
this perennial herb that grows to about three feet high. The usable
part is harvested in the winter, boiled or steamed, and then dried.
Although about 5 percent of the rhizome is composed of an essential
oil, most turmeric is available as a powder.
Chemicals identied in turmeric include curcumin, tumerone, and
zingiberone, along with a carotene equivalent to 50 IU of vitamin A
per 100 grams. The medicinal eects of turmeric are probably
related to the curcumin, which has been shown to have potent
antioxidant properties.1
THE SCIENCE OF TURMERIC
Turmeric is a pharmacy unto itself. A wealth of scientic studies
have demonstrated that this golden spice can have health-promoting
eects on the digestive, cardiovascular, rheumatic, and immune
systems. It has a very high safety prole without serious side eects
at usual dosages.
Turmeric has a soothing eect on the digestive system, with
studies showing that it helps to increase the mucous protective
lining of the stomach, reducing the risk of ulcers due to stress or
drugs.2 It has a protective eect on the liver and can help reduce
elevated blood cholesterol levels.3, 4
The most common medicinal uses of turmeric involve its anti-
inammatory properties. Constituents of turmeric have been shown
to suppress inammation by blocking the production of certain
prostaglandin chemicals.5 Through a similar mechanism, it has been
shown to keep platelets from sticking together, which, along with its
documented cholesterol-lowering eect and its ability to suppress
the growth of blood vessel muscle cells, may give turmeric an
important role in lowering the risk of heart attacks.6
One of turmeric’s traditional uses has been in the treatment of
arthritis, and scientic studies have suggested that, alone or in
combination with other herbs, it can reduce pain and stiness.7, 8
Several studies in animals have demonstrated that turmeric can
prevent or inhibit the development of certain cancer cells, but
whether this is relevant to people has yet to be determined.9, 10 It
does seem to help the body detoxify itself of potentially cancer-
causing substances.11
Turmeric has long been used as a natural antibiotic agent. Studies
from around the world have conrmed that components of this
multitalented spice can inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and
viruses.12, 13
The German Commission E has determined that turmeric is
eective in digestive disturbances, with the particular eect of
stimulating the gallbladder to empty. It is not recommended for use
in people with known gallstones.
PRACTICAL USES FOR TURMERIC
Turmeric powder adds its pleasant taste and beautiful color to soups
and sautéed vegetable dishes, and can be used liberally as a culinary
spice. Its traditional purifying eect makes it a useful spice for
people participating in a detoxication program. Turmeric can be
taken at the earliest sign of a sore throat or cough by sprinkling it
onto organic honey and licking a teaspoon every two hours. It can
also be added to a variety of herbal teas, including blends of
chamomile, licorice, and slippery elm when facing a cold or u.
Occasionally, capsules of turmeric are prescribed for the treatment
of mild arthritic conditions. In patients facing cancer, we
recommend the liberal use of turmeric in food dishes. It is also
encouraged for people diagnosed with mild adult-onset diabetes
mellitus.
Powdered turmeric mixed into a paste with water can be directly
applied to pimples and other irritated skin lesions before bedtime.
The bright yellow color may make you reluctant to use turmeric on
your face during the day. Once the paste dries, the residual powder
can be washed o with plain water.
HOW TO USE TURMERIC
Turmeric is widely available in grocery and Indian spice stores. It is
a traditional component of most curry spice blends in which it
combines well with cumin, coriander, and fenugreek. A quarter
teaspoon of turmeric added while cooking a cup of basmati rice
adds its subtle avor and golden color to the dish.
As a tea, add one-half teaspoon to a cup of boiling water, reduce
the heat, and steep for ten minutes. Add a little honey and drink
several times per day for a nagging cold or u. It combines well
with fresh gingerroot and cardamom.
If you have a sore throat, scoop up three-quarters of a teaspoon of
honey and add as much turmeric powder as will stick to the honey.
Then slowly lick the honey-turmeric mixture, allowing it to coat
your throat as you swallow it. This can be repeated many times per
day until your throat discomfort subsides.
For skin eruptions, take one-half teaspoon of turmeric powder and
add a few drops of water at a time until you have a thick paste.
Then apply the mixture to an aggravated pimple and allow it to dry
fully. Wash the caked powder o, and repeat up to four times daily.
For irritated rashes on parts of your body other than your face, mix
turmeric powder with ghee (claried butter) or coconut oil, one-half
teaspoon of turmeric per ounce of oil or ghee. Then massage the
herbalized oil into the irritated area. Repeat this two or three times
each day for several days. To benet from turmeric’s generalized
inammatory and detoxifying properties, take one teaspoon in low-
fat milk three times daily.
AYURVEDA AND TURMERIC
Turmeric is an important cleansing and detoxifying agent in
Ayurvedic medicine. Classied as bitter and mildly heating, it is
used both internally and topically. For fevers, colds, and u,
turmeric can be added to coriander and cinnamon teas or taken
mixed with honey. Mixing it with claried butter or vegetable oil
enhances its absorption. It can be applied directly to sites of
irritated skin, in the form of a paste or ointment. Taken internally, it
has a particular eect of balancing excessive Kapha.
PRECAUTIONS
Although no clinical problems have been reported, turmeric’s eect
on platelets theoretically suggests that high doses should be avoided
by people on prescribed blood thinners.
P
ECHINACEA PURPUREA
FAMILIAR: echinacea, purple coneower
LATIN: Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia,
Echinacea pallida
erhaps the most popular herbal medicine in the United States,
echinacea is native to North America. It was valued by Native
Americans and prized by early European settlers. At least
fourteen Native American tribes used echinacea medicinally for
upper respiratory infections, snake bites, and toothaches. Of the
nine known species of echinacea, three are commonly available
today and seem to have equivalent actions. In addition to its reputed
medicinal value, echinacea is popular in ower gardens for its
attractive owers.
Echinacea has been the subject of intense scientic investigations
in both Europe and America to assess its reputation as an immune
enhancer. Although not every study has yielded positive results,
there is considerable evidence that echinacea can enhance our
immunity. It is a generally safe herbal medicine with rare serious
adverse eects reported despite millions of doses consumed
annually.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Both the owering tops and the roots of echinacea are used for
medicinal purposes. All species of echinacea belong to the daisy
family, and their owers show characteristic raylike petals
projecting from a central cone. The size of echinacea plants ranges
from the smaller E. angustifolia, which is usually less than two feet
in height, to the three-foot-tall E. purpurea to the even larger four-
foot E. pallida. Echinacea’s range extends from southern Canada
through the central and eastern United States, with colors ranging
from deep purple to light pink.
The chemical constituents of echinacea responsible for its
medicinal properties have not been clearly characterized. Although
sugars, glycosides, tannins, terpenes, and phenolic compounds have
been identied, the polysaccharide component has received the
most attention. Laboratory studies looking into echinacea have
shown that a polysaccharide extract activates immune cells and
inhibits the ability of bacteria to invade healthy cells. Several recent
studies applying these test-tube ndings to people have shown that
the polysaccharide component of echinacea may be responsible for
its anti-infective benet in people.
THE SCIENCE OF ECHINACEA
Many studies have looked at the role of echinacea on the immune
system. Studies in mice have shown that echinacea extract can
enhance the production of immune-stimulating chemicals including
interleukins and tumor necrosis factors, important in identifying and
eliminating potentially harmful germs and cancer cells.1
Components of echinacea also help attract and stimulate white
blood cells, whose job it is to gobble up invading organisms.2, 3
Known as macrophages, these warriors of the immune system are
important in ghting viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.
Interestingly, echinacea also contains natural anti-inammatory
chemicals, suggesting that this herb is intrinsically balanced so as
not to overly excite an immune response.4
The ability of echinacea to inuence immune function in people
has been studied in both healthy volunteers and people with
illnesses. In a recent review of ve studies that measured immune
function in healthy people taking echinacea, two showed a denite
eect, while the other three did not.5 The authors of this report
pointed out that it was dicult to interpret the dierent results as
the measurements of immune function, and the echinacea extract
used was dierent in each study. In another report of twelve
patients who had undergone surgery for cancerous tumors,
echinacea did not have any detectable eect on their immune
function.6
The important question regarding echinacea is whether or not it
benets people with real-life immune challenges. Although dozens
of studies have looked at this question, most have weaknesses that
make their reliable interpretation dicult.7 Two well-designed
investigations published in the early 1990s did nd measurable
benet from the use of echinacea. In one, patients began taking
echinacea drops at the start of a u-like illness. Those who took a
higher dose of echinacea extract had a faster recovery than people
who took a lower dose or a placebo.8 Another study, from Germany,
looking at people with a tendency to get upper-respiratory
infections found that those taking echinacea had fewer and less
severe episodes over an eight-week period.9
Recent studies have been less clearcut. Subjects given daily doses
of echinacea for twelve weeks showed no objective advantage in
terms of a reduced frequency of respiratory infections, compared
with those taking a placebo, although those on echinacea reported
subjective benets.10 In yet another German study, people taking
echinacea were followed for eight weeks and compared against
those on a placebo. Although the average number of respiratory
infections was .78 in the echinacea group and .93 in the placebo
group, and the average length of a cold was 4.5 days in the
echinacea group and 6.5 days in the placebo group, the dierences
did not reach statistical signicance.11 A more positive result was
reported in a recent Swedish study in which people who took a
concentrated echinacea extract at the start of a cold had faster relief
of symptoms than those taking a placebo.12
Summarizing the ndings of these various studies, it appears that
echinacea has a benet in reducing the symptoms of a cold or u if
it is taken early in the course. It is less certain that it has denite
value as a preventive agent.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ECHINACEA
Echinacea can provide natural support to your body’s immune
system for minor self-limiting respiratory infections. Keep some
echinacea in your home pharmacy and begin taking it at the rst
signs of a cold or u. Its role in other conditions where an immune
boost may be valuable, such as other types of infections or cancer,
has not been well documented. One report using echinacea in
people with chronic fatigue syndrome and AIDS found that it could
enhance immune function over the short term, but long-term follow-
up was not available.13 Whether you are basically healthy or are
dealing with an illness that compromises your immune system, we
do not recommend the use of echinacea on a regular basis, for it
may lose its eectiveness after taking it steadily for a couple of
weeks and not be helpful when you actually need it.
In addition to its internal use, echinacea has also had a traditional
use as a topical medicinal substance. Dried herbal tablets can be
crushed and suspended in water to be used as a gargle for sore
throats. The juiced extract can also be applied directly to abrasions
or sores to reduce the chance of infection.
HOW TO USE ECHINACEA
Echinacea is available in many forms today. Tablets and capsules
containing the dried herb and tinctures are the most common
products, although you can now nd echinacea in teas, cold
remedies, and even throat lozenges. Many herb manufacturers have
standardized their doses to provide a specic percentage of chemical
ingredients, usually 15 percent polysaccharides and 4 percent
phenolic compounds. Tablets and capsules deliver between 125 and
300 milligrams of echinacea extract per dose. Recommended daily
intake is between 500 milligrams and 1 gram in two or three
divided doses.
Echinacea is also available as a liquid tincture, usually extracted
in ethanol in a 1:1 or 1:2 dilution. The extracts can be derived solely
from the root or may include material from seeds, leaves, and
owers. Echinacea extract is often combined with extracts of other
herbs that have a reputation for immune enhancement, most
commonly goldenseal. The usual dose of the liquid extract is twenty-
ve to sixty drops, two or three times daily.
Although some herbalists suggest taking it on a routine basis, the
evidence more strongly supports the short-term use of echinacea at
the start of an infection. Its eectiveness probably wanes after
taking it for more than ten days in a row.
ECHINACEA AND AYURVEDA
Although not known to Ayurvedic physicians in India, echinacea can
be understood as a potent detoxifying substance, similar in some
ways to neem. It carries the bitter and pungent tastes and has a net
cooling eect on the physiology. It is reducing to Pitta and Kapha,
but can be aggravating to Vata if used for a prolonged period.
PRECAUTIONS
Most studies of neem emphasize its safety in both adults and
children. A recent review stated the only adverse reactions were to
the taste of the extract.14 Echinacea has been shown to be virtually
non-toxic to mice and rats.15 However, a recent report from
Australia identied a woman who may have had a severe allergic
reaction to echinacea, and cautioned that people with a history of
allergy may show a hypersensitivity to echinacea, even upon rst
exposure.16
F
ELETTERIA CARDAMOMUM
FAMILIAR: cardamos
LATIN: Eletteria cardamomum
SANSKRIT: ela
or millennia the enticing, sweet, and pungent aroma of
cardamom has been prized around the world. Described in the
early Ayurvedic texts, valued by the ancient Greeks, and
coveted by European powers during the Renaissance, cardamom has
traditionally been associated with royalty and haute cuisine. The
famous collection of stories known as The Arabian Nights is spiced
with references to cardamom, a favorite Middle Eastern avoring
added to soften the bitterness of coee. Both historically and today,
this unique spice is highly sought after and relatively high-priced.
Cardamom is the spice of celebrations and hospitality.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The cardamom plant, found in the tropical rain forests of India and
growing wild on the coastal hills, is a perennial that grows up to ten
feet high and bears a delicate yellowish white ower with violet
stripes. The spice comes from the aromatic green seed pods, which
can hold up to eighteen seeds. The pods are harvested before they
ripen, and are sun-dried until they open and release the treasured
seeds.
Up to 8 percent of a cardamom seed consists of an essential oil
that contains a variety of volatile substances including limonene,
cineol, terpineol, and terpinene.
THE SCIENCE OF CARDAMOM
Cardamom has received very little scientic attention for its
medicinal qualities. Animal studies from Saudi Arabia have
demonstrated that the steam-distilled oil has anti-inammatory and
pain-relieving properties.1 It also reduces muscle spasms, acting on
receptors for acetylcholine, the neurochemical that generates muscle
contractions.
Studies from Asia have shown that cardamom oil enhances the
penetration of other drugs through the skin. Mixing cardamom oil
with the anti-inammatory medicine indocin and with the steroid
drug prednisolone increased the amount of the medicine that
penetrated the skin.2, 3 These eects may eventually be helpful in
improving the delivery of dermatological medicines.
In a study from China, cardamom, along with other herbs, was
reported to reduce the side eects of dierent chemotherapy drugs.4
Cardamom’s aromatic essential oil may help reduce nausea.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF CARDAMOM
Cardamom is best known as a culinary spice. It is considered a
member of the sweet spices group and is commonly used to avor
candies and bakery goods. Cardamom is often added to curried
spiced blends, rice pilafs, and pastries to provide its distinctive
avor and aroma. Although it is not as well known in American
cooking, cardamom is an important spice in kitchens ranging from
India to Africa, and from Arabia to South America. The essential oil
extracted from the almost-ripe fruits is used in perfumes and to
avor coees and liqueurs. Cardamom seeds can be chewed to
sweeten the breath and are oered to guests at the end of a meal as
a sign of hospitality.
Cardamom has been used medicinally for many health concerns.
The generally soothing eects of the essential oil are applied to
conditions aecting both the respiratory and digestive tracts.
Cardamom tea or crushed seeds may be given to people with asthma
to relieve respiratory spasms. Sinus congestion resulting from a cold
may also respond to the aromatic properties of cardamom.
In the digestive system it is considered a carminative, useful in
relieving gas and bloating. It enlivens the digestive re and is
usually well accepted by people with poor digestion who have
diculty tolerating the hotter spices such as ginger or cayenne. It
has a very mild laxative eect and can be particularly helpful in
relieving abdominal discomfort after overeating. When people
transition from a meat-based diet to a primarily vegetarian one, they
occasionally go through a phase of gaseousness and digestive
irritability. Cardamom tea will often promptly alleviate the
gastrointestinal stagnation. It can safely be given to children for
mild stomach aches with a potency similar to chamomile.
Cardamom has a warming eect on the system, which can help
with mild circulation problems characterized by cold hands and
feet. It can also relieve chills when one is facing a cold or u. Its
pleasant taste makes it a good herb to combine with other, less
appetizing ones in order to improve their palatability.
We recommend adding a pinch of cardamom powder to hot milk
before bed as an aid to sound sleep. The combination of nutmeg,
cardamom, and a teaspoon of brown sugar or honey enhances milk’s
relaxing eect. The cardamom also seems to improve the
digestibility of milk in people who are sensitive to dairy. Cardamom
is a good example of a spice that illustrates the close relationship
between an herb’s medicinal and culinary value.
HOW TO USE CARDAMOM
Cardamom is readily available as whole and ground seeds in most
grocery, health food, and herb stores. It can be used singly or as part
of a digestive formula consisting of equal parts ground cardamom
seeds, cinnamon, and nutmeg. As a tea, place one-quarter to one-
half teaspoon steeped in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. This
will create a weak infusion that can be sweetened or taken alone.
Cardamom seeds mix well with fennel seeds to soothe indigestion
after overeating.
This mixture also makes a nice natural breath freshener.
Cardamom mixed with a little grated gingerroot can help reduce
nausea and may be helpful in pregnancy for morning sickness.
Adding one-quarter teaspoon of ground cardamom seed to your
coee will soften the bitterness and give you a taste of Arabia.
Cardamom can also be combined with black tea, cloves, milk, and
honey for a delicious and exotic fatigue reliever.
AYURVEDA AND CARDAMOM
From an Ayurvedic perspective, cardamom is a warming herb whose
potential Pitta-aggravating qualities are balanced by its sweet taste.
It can be used liberally by people with a Vata or Kapha constitution,
and will not overstimulate Pitta except in high quantities.
PRECAUTIONS
Taken as a culinary spice, cardamom is very safe. Occasionally
people with active peptic ulcers report mild digestive distress with
high doses.
A
EMBLICA OFFICINALIS
FAMILIAR: amalaki, Indian gooseberry
LATIN: Emblica ocinalis
SANSKRIT: amalaki
malaki is considered the best herbal medicine for
rejuvenation in Ayurveda. It can be used alone or in
combination with many other herbs. The basis of the most
famous Ayurvedic herbal jam, Chavan Prash, amalaki is considered
capable of reversing the aging process. From a taste standpoint, it is
among the most complicated edible substances, possessing ve of
the six basic avors (lacking only the salty taste). Native to the
forests of India, amalaki is valued throughout Nepal, Tibet, and the
Middle East.
Amalaki is one of the richest natural sources of antioxidant
vitamins, with its juice possessing almost twenty times as much
vitamin C as orange juice. It has wide traditional uses, including the
treatment of skin diseases, lung conditions, diabetes, and
indigestion. It is one of the three ingredients of Triphala, the most
important Ayurvedic bowel tonic.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Amalaki fruits are obtained from the Emblica ocinalis tree, which
grows in tropical and subtropical climates. The fruit is less than an
inch in diameter and has a segmented appearance. Yellowish brown
when fresh, the fruit turns nearly black as it dries. There is almost
one gram of vitamin C in a half-cup of amalaki juice.1 Small
amounts of calcium, potassium, iron, and B vitamins are also
present in the amalaki fruit. Many dierent tannins as well as pectin
are constituents of amalaki.
THE SCIENCE OF AMALAKI
Amalaki’s traditional role as a rejuvenating herbal medicine has
been studied in two major health areas: cancer and heart disease.
Studies in animals have suggested that amalaki may slow the
development and growth of cancer cells. In a study from India, mice
given a known cancer-causing chemical along with amalaki had
signicantly fewer harmful genetic changes than those given the
carcinogen alone.2 Amalaki has also been shown to reduce genetic
mutations in bacteria exposed to substances that have been
identied to cause cancer.3
An herbal jam made with amalaki, called MAK-4, has been
studied in several animal models. In one study it was found to
inhibit cancerous changes induced by a toxic chemical.4 In another
it was found to reduce both the number and size of metastatic
cancerous lesions.5 The relevance of these reports to human cancers
remains to be claried, but the preliminary results are encouraging.
The other major area of scientic interest in amalaki is its role in
the lowering of serum cholesterol levels. Several studies in rabbits
have shown that amalaki is eective in reducing blood cholesterol
values and the deposition of fat into blood vessels.6, 7 In a study in
rabbits, amalaki reduced serum cholesterol levels by over 80
percent.8
This cholesterol-lowering eect is applicable to human beings as
well. Men whose diet was supplemented with amalaki for one
month demonstrated lowering of their serum cholesterol levels,
whether or not their cholesterol was elevated before they began
taking the amalaki.9 Other studies have suggested that amalaki-
based supplements can reduce the harmful oxidation of cholesterol
in men.10 It may also decrease the stickiness of platelets, lowering
the risk of unwanted blood clotting.11
Other potential therapeutic eects of amalaki have received
preliminary scientic attention. It has been used traditionally in the
treatment of heartburn, and one report has provided some support
for this use.12 It also has a reputation for the treatment of liver and
pancreatic conditions, and in one animal study it was able to reduce
the extent of tissue damage caused by experimental pancreatitis.13
Although amalaki has classically been recommended in the
treatment of diabetes mellitus, there has been no scientic research
to evaluate this use. Studies have shown that amalaki does have
antibiotic activity against a wide range of bacteria, possibly
explaining its traditional role in the treatment of lung infections.14
THE PRACTICAL USE OF AMALAKI
Amalaki forms the basis of the premier Ayurvedic rejuvenative jam
traditionally known as Chavan Prash, named after the doctor who
developed the formula thousands of years ago. We recommend this
mixture of amalaki fruit with many other tonic herbs for people
recovering from illness as well as for those seeking rejuvenation. A
teaspoon twice daily is the usual dosage, either taken straight or
mixed in juice or warm milk.
Amalaki is also readily available in Triphala, the gentle Ayurvedic
bowel tonic that can be helpful in people with chronic constipation
as well as those with irritable bowel syndrome. Mixed with
shatavari, fennel, and turmeric, it can be eective in reducing
hyperacidity.
As a cholesterol agent, amalaki combines well with guggulu. This
same combination may be helpful in diabetes, rheumatic conditions,
and liver ailments.
HOW TO USE AMALAKI
As a component of triphala, amalaki represents one-third of a
typical half-gram tablet. The usual dose to improve colon function is
one to two grams daily in divided doses. As a treatment for elevated
cholesterol, begin with one gram twice daily. In the form of amalaki
herbal jam, a teaspoon morning and evening will provide you with a
good dose of this potent herbal antioxidant.
AYURVEDA AND AMALAKI
Although the sweet taste predominates in amalaki, its complex
nature makes it appropriate for all three doshas. Because it is a rich
rasayana, whenever possible it is advisable to rst undergo a period
of detoxication before taking amalaki. It is traditionally considered
to be rejuvenating for Pitta imbalances, and strengthening to the
liver, stomach, heart, and blood.
PRECAUTIONS
Owing to its laxative qualities, amalaki should be used carefully in
people with a tendency toward loose bowels. Many herbal jam
formulations of amalaki have high concentrations of sugar and
claried butter (ghee). Chavan Prash should therefore be used
carefully by people with diabetes and high cholesterol; without the
sugar and ghee, amalaki is considered helpful for these conditions.
G
GINKGO BILOBA
FAMILIAR: ginkgo
LATIN: ginkgo biloba
inkgo may be the most ancient tree on earth, dating back
200 million years. Once found in North America and Europe,
it survived only in China after the prehistoric ice ages.
Prized for its medicinal properties for almost ve thousand years,
ginkgo is now one of the most popular herbs in Europe and the
United States. The name ginkgo is derived from the Japanese words
gin, meaning “silver” and kyo meaning “apricot,” referring to the
inedible fruits that appear in the summer.
Serious interest in ginkgo has been expanding in the West over
the past quarter-century as scientic research has documented the
therapeutic benets of this ancient herb on circulation, memory,
hearing, and balance. A dry extract of ginkgo called EGb (extract of
Ginkgo biloba) is now the standardized herbal product that is
receiving attention around the world.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Ginkgo is a deciduous tree that can grow to heights of over one
hundred feet and may live as long as one thousand years. Originally
cultivated in China, ginkgo trees are now grown on farms in Japan,
France, and, most recently, the southeastern United States. It is a
remarkably hardy plant, tolerant of pollution and pests, and able to
thrive in modern urban environments.
The characteristic fanlike leaves of ginkgo have two lobes,
accounting for its species name, biloba. The leaves are harvested in
the fall and put through an extraction process using an acetone-and-
water mixture. The solvent is removed and the extract is
standardized to yield 24 percent avone glycosides and 5 to 7
percent terpene lactones. These compounds have a variety of
pharmacological eects, including antioxidant, circulation-
enhancing, and nerve-cells-protective action. Ginkgo extract also
inhibits a natural substance called platelet activation factor (PAF)
that is an important component of the clotting system. The various
properties of ginkgo may combine to explain its clinical value in
improving memory and circulation.
THE SCIENCE OF GINKGO
Hundreds of scientic studies have been published on the laboratory
and clinical eects of ginkgo. It is a complex medicinal substance
whose full range of properties have yet to be characterized. It has
diverse actions, including the ability to protect cell membranes,
neutralize free radicals, protect tissues from oxygen deprivation, and
improve circulation. Because it appears to have very few side
eects, medical researchers have been performing clinical studies to
test the applicability of the laboratory and animal ndings to
people.
Initial studies on ginkgo in human beings focused on its ability to
enhance blood supply to the brain as well as to increase the brain’s
ability to utilize oxygen and energy sources.1, 2 Ginkgo extract has
also been shown to protect the integrity of nerve cells deprived of
oxygen.3 These initial ndings led to a number of clinical studies in
people with impaired neurological functioning believed to result
from lack of circulation to the brain. At the time of many of these
studies, memory impairment was often blamed on lack of blood
supply, and improving circulation to the brain was believed to help
people think more clearly. Several reports of people given ginkgo
demonstrated that they performed better on tests of mental
functioning.4, 5
We have since learned that most elderly people with serious
memory problems have a degenerative condition such as
Alzheimer’s disease or multiple small strokes rather than a
generalized lack of blood supply to the brain. Recent studies have
evaluated the role of ginkgo in patients with these conditions and
found that it can provide denite value. A small German study
found that people with Alzheimer’s disease taking 240 milligrams of
ginkgo extract per day showed improvement in their mental
functioning compared with a deterioration in those taking a
placebo.6 A larger study of people with dementia resulting either
from Alzheimer’s disease or multiple small strokes also found that
ginkgo improved their memory and quality of life.7 A recent North
American study also found that people with dementia taking ginkgo
did not deteriorate as quickly as those on a placebo and in a number
of cases actually improved.8 Although the benets have generally
been mild to moderate, these are nonetheless remarkable ndings,
for there has been very little else to oer patients with this
devastating condition. The currently available pharmacological
agents are not very eective, have substantial side eects, and are
very expensive.
Does ginkgo provide any memory benet to people without brain
diseases? We do not yet know the answer to this question. Mice
given ginkgo learn more quickly, with less anxiety, but we do not
know if this has relevance in people.9 Of interest is the nding that
mice receiving ginkgo show subtle changes in nerve cells that reside
in the memory center of their brain, providing a possible anatomical
explanation for the observed enhancement of memory.10 A study of
basically healthy people with fatigue found that those taking ginkgo
in combination with ginseng scored slightly higher on tests of
cognitive function than those taking a placebo.11 Although we do
not recommend that everyone take ginkgo as a brain food, it does
appear to provide a safe approach for those having diculty
maintaining their mental focus.
In addition to the memory-enhancing eects of ginkgo, this
ancient botanical medicine has shown many other potentially
benecial health eects. A common condition that develops as
people age is impaired circulation to the legs, which results in pain
when walking. Some studies, but not all, have shown that ginkgo
may benet this condition, known as intermittent claudication.
Reports from Germany found that patients taking ginkgo are able to
walk farther with less pain than those taking a placebo.12, 13
Another study from Denmark did not nd improvement in the
ambulatory capacity of people taking ginkgo, but did nd that these
patients had improved concentration and memory.14
Ginkgo has been tested in the treatment of hearing and balance
problems and found to have potential benet. Cats with damage to
their balance systems showed faster recoveries if ginkgo was added
to their diet, while guinea pigs exposed to loud noises and given
ginkgo had less damage to their hearing nerves than those left
untreated.15, 16 A study in people with episodes of dizziness and
ringing in their ears demonstrated some improvement in both
symptoms after taking ginkgo for several months.17
A potentially important application of ginkgo is in the prevention
of mountain sickness. In a report from France, mountain climbers on
a Himalayan expedition who took ginkgo weathered the high
altitude much better than their colleagues given a placebo.18 None
of the subjects hiking to over fteen thousand feet taking ginkgo
developed acute brain mountain sickness, compared to over 40
percent in the control group. Breathing problems were six times as
likely in climbers who took a placebo as in those on ginkgo. The
mountain climbers on ginkgo also had fewer problems with the
blood vessel changes that lead to frostbite.
Ginkgo has also been used in the treatment of asthma, with
studies showing it can reduce the severity of wheezing caused by
exercise, dust, and pollen.19 One of ginkgo’s pharmacological eects
is to inhibit a natural inammatory chemical called platelet
activating factor (PAF), which has been implicated in asthma and
allergies.
Another potential use for ginkgo is in the treatment of sexual
dysfunction associated with antidepressant medications. Although
the new antidepressant medicines are often very eective in
improving mood, they may cause sexual dysfunction in both men
and women. A recent report from San Francisco found that ginkgo
was eective in improving all four phases of the sexual response
(desire, excitement, orgasm, and resolution) in 91 percent of women
and 76 percent of men.20 Considering the recent frenzy created by
Viagra, further testing of ginkgo is warranted in people with sexual
potency problems from all causes to see if this safe herbal medicine
may be of value.
Ginkgo has been studied in the treatment of ulcerative colitis,
anxiety, and premenstrual syndrome.21–23 It may help enhance
immune function, reduce oxidative stress during coronary artery
surgery, and improve recovery after spinal cord injury.24–26 It is
obvious that this ancient tree has evolved a vast pharmacy of
natural healing substances that we have just begun to appreciate in
modern times.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GINKGO
Most people who use ginkgo have concerns about their memory.
This may show up as diculty with concentration, trouble recalling
names, or simple forgetfulness. Most of the time these minor
concerns do not represent a serious neurological condition, and it is
reasonable to try ginkgo for a few months before undergoing a
formal memory evaluation. If someone has been diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease, a trial of ginkgo is warranted under the
supervision of a physician who is familiar with this illness.
The use of ginkgo in intermittent claudication should be discussed
with your doctor to be certain that other treatments are not more
appropriate. For symptoms of dizziness or ringing in the ears, be
certain to have a medical evaluation to rule out treatable specic
causes before starting ginkgo. The risks of taking ginkgo for sexual
dysfunction are very low, but we recommend you discuss its use
with your health-care provider if you are taking any prescribed
medications.
HOW TO USE GINKGO
Ginkgo products in the United States have followed the lead of
European manufacturers with almost all tablets and capsules
standardized to 24 percent avone glycosides and 6 percent terpene
lactones. The ginkgo extract usually represents a 50:1 concentration
that provides 40 or 60 milligrams per tablet. Most studies have used
between 120 and 320 milligrams on a daily basis in divided doses.
When you rst begin ginkgo, start with 120 milligrams per day, in
two or three divided doses. Wait at least a month to assess the
eects before gradually increasing the dose by 40 milligrams per
day.
AYURVEDA AND GINKGO
Despite its ancient Asian heritage, ginkgo was not described in the
ancient Ayurvedic texts. Its properties are similar to the Ayurvedic
herb gotu kola. The predominant taste of ginkgo extract is bitter,
with a minor sour component. It can be balancing to all three
doshas and has a net cooling eect on the physiology.
PRECAUTIONS
Although rare, headaches and mild digestive upset can occur in
people taking ginkgo. The headache is usually mild and can be
minimized by starting with a low dose. There have been two case
reports of people developing bleeding complications while on
ginkgo. One involved bleeding into the eye in a seventy-year-old
man who had been taking aspirin.27 The other was a case of a young
woman on ginkgo for two years who developed blood clots on her
brain.28 No obvious explanation for the bleeding could be
uncovered. Although these possible complications are exceedingly
rare, it is recommended not to take ginkgo if you have any type of
bleeding condition or are taking any blood-thinning medication,
including aspirin.
T
GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA
FAMILIAR: licorice
LATIN: Glycyrrhiza glabra
SANSKRIT: yasthimadhu
he chewy black candy that many of us loved as children is
derived from the roots of a plant long treasured by healing
cultures across Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean. In
addition to providing a sweet avoring that is fty times more
intense than sugar, licorice contains a number of therapeutic
medicinal substances. It has many potential uses in conditions of the
digestive and respiratory systems. Its intensely sweet taste makes
licorice an ideal additive to disguise other, less palatable medicines
and herbs. Its name in Sanskrit, yasthimadhu, means “stick of
sweetness.”
Honored for thousands of years as a treatment for inammatory
conditions, modern studies have documented that licorice has
steroidlike actions. Used cautiously and with respect, licorice is a
valuable healing plant, but at excessive levels it can cause
potentially dangerous side eects.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The shrub from which licorice is derived is a member of the legume
family. This perennial plant produces small, pealike blue owers
and may reach six feet in height. The roots are harvested and
processed to yield a sugary paste that is used as a avoring for
candy and medicine.
Licorice contains a number of chemical compounds including
phytoestrogens, sugars, and avonoids. The most investigated
component of licorice is glycyrrhizic acid. This substance seems to
be responsible for many of licorice’s anti-inammatory properties
through mechanisms that have only recently been unraveled. It
appears that in the digestive tract, glycyrrhizic acid is converted
into glycyrrhetic acid. This chemical inhibits the enzyme that
metabolizes the natural steroid cortisol, resulting in higher
circulating levels of this steroid, with its known anti-inammatory
eects.
The downside of licorice’s steroidlike actions is the potential for
elevated blood pressure, because it can cause the body to retain too
much sodium. For this reason, the medicinal use of licorice must be
moderate and carefully monitored. Licorice contains many other
natural chemicals, including components with estrogenlike eects,
immune stimulating activity, and antiviral properties.
THE SCIENCE OF LICORICE
Hundreds of scientic studies have been published on licorice,
documenting its potent physiological properties. It is a strong anti-
inammatory substance that reduces pain and fever. Although its
actions are related to cortisol and hydrocortisone, it does not cause
ulcers in the digestive tract or suppress the production of blood cells
as standard steroids do.1 Components of licorice function as
powerful antioxidants that may be helpful in reducing both heart
disease and cancer.2, 3 Laboratory studies paint a complex picture of
the pharmacological properties of licorice. Licorice appears to
reduce elevated cholesterol levels and to prolong the clotting time of
blood.4, 5 These combined eects could be benecial in patients at
risk for coronary artery disease. One possible explanation of how
licorice works is that it stimulates enzymes in the liver that
neutralize toxic substances from the environment.6
A potentially important use for licorice is in the treatment of viral
infections. Studies have reported that licorice has the ability to
inactivate a wide range of dierent viruses.7 Reports from Japan
have suggested that licorice can have a benecial impact on people
with chronic hepatitis B infection.8 Glycyrrhizin can stimulate the
production of the potent immune-enhancing substance interferon
and is capable of enhancing the activity of key immune cells.9, 10
The medicinal applications of licorice in people are still being
explored. One of its traditional uses has been in the treatment of
peptic ulcers, and animal studies have shown that licorice stimulates
the production of protective mucus in the stomach lining.11 Studies
from over forty years ago demonstrated that licorice extracts could
promote the healing of ulcers.12 Concerns about side eects and the
development of acid secretion blocking agents has essentially
eliminated the role of licorice in the mainstream therapy of ulcers in
the United States, although it remains in comparatively wide use for
this purpose in Europe.
Taking advantage of its blood-pressure-raising potential,
researchers have employed licorice in the treatment of low blood
pressure caused by diabetes mellitus.13 It has also been of benet in
the treatment of low blood pressure that is sometimes associated
with chronic fatigue syndrome.14
Although there is a legitimate concern about the side eects of
licorice, most complications occur in people taking excessive doses.
Elevated blood pressure has been reported in men consuming 50
grams of licorice candy daily, which corresponds to a dosage of
between 100 to 200 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid.15 Other reports
have suggested that people do not show any ill eects from licorice
until their daily intake of glycyrrhizic acid approaches 400
milligrams for two weeks.16 To stay within a safe range, do not
consume more than 100 milligrams of glycyrrhizic acid per day.
This usually means taking no more than 2.5 grams of dried licorice
root on a daily basis and not using it continuously for more than
four to six weeks at a time.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF LICORICE
Licorice has traditionally been used in the treatment of coughs and
colds to help mobilize secretions. A tea composed of equal parts
licorice and fresh ginger provides the right balance of pungency and
smoothness to loosen and discharge mucus. Mixed with amalaki and
shatavari, it is useful in the treatment of heartburn and
hyperacidity. A strong infusion made with licorice root and slippery
elm is a useful soothing gargle or mouthwash for sore throats and
canker sores.
We occasionally prescribe licorice to reduce the accumulated heat
in women experiencing hot ashes during menopause. Its mild
laxative action can contribute to the ecacy of Triphala. For people
trying to lose weight or stop smoking, we suggest that they suck on
natural licorice-root sticks, which can satisfy oral cravings.
For people suering with chronic fatigue, a daily cup of licorice
tea may prove helpful in generating vitality when taken upon
awakening in the morning. In other conditions where a person may
be trying to decrease his or her steroid requirement in conditions
such as chronic bronchitis or asthma, a cup of licorice-and-ginger
tea two to three times daily may tip the balance in favor of less
medication. Be certain to work closely with your health-care adviser
if you are using licorice more than occasionally.
HOW TO USE LICORICE
Bulk chopped licorice root is available at most health-food stores. A
tablespoon of the chopped roots or a teaspoon of the shredded roots
in a cup of hot water makes a moderately strong tea. The addition of
one-quarter teaspoon of powdered licorice root to bitter herbs
makes them much more palatable.
Powdered licorice in the form of capsules can be taken in doses
up to 2.5 grams per day. Most of the major herbal companies have
standardized the glycyrrhizic acid content of their licorice capsules.
Check the amount per capsule, and limit your total daily intake to
100 milligrams. The German Commission E recommends limiting a
course of licorice to no longer than six weeks at a time.
AYURVEDA AND LICORICE
Licorice is predominantly sweet and bitter, with a cooling eect.
Although, with its sweet taste and cooling potency, one might not
anticipate its value in Kapha conditions such as upper respiratory
congestion, its special properties of loosening and mobilizing mucus
outweigh its potential Kapha-augmenting eects. Its heavy, sweet
smoothness is balancing to Vata, while its cooling inuence makes
licorice particularly useful for balancing aggravated Pitta.
PRECAUTIONS
Do not take licorice if you have elevated blood pressure or are
taking diuretic medications. Be certain that you do not exceed the
safe recommended dose. Most licorice root contains between 4 and
8 percent glycyrrhizic acid, so a 500-milligram tablet of the dried
powdered root will have 20 to 40 milligrams. Do not take
unnecessary risks with this herb.
G
GYMNEMA
FAMILIAR: gurmar
LATIN: Gymnema sylvestre
SANSKRIT/HINDI: mehasringi, gurmar
urmar is a fascinating example of an herb that complies with
the “doctrine of signatures.” This ancient precept postulates
that nature intentionally provides clues to the medicinal
value of an herb. When the leaves of gurmar are chewed, the tongue
becomes insensitive to the taste of sweetness for about an hour. This
eect is the origin of the Hindi word for this herb, gurmar, meaning
“destroyer of sweet.” Ayurvedic doctors reasoned that if this plant
neutralized the eects of sugar on the tongue, it might have a
similar action in the body. Consequently it was given to people with
diabetes mellitus and found eective in reducing the symptoms of
this common metabolic condition. Many modern studies have
conrmed a therapeutic inuence of gurmar on sugar metabolism.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Gymnema sylvestre is a climbing plant commonly found in the
southern and central parts of India. It has one-inch-long elliptical
leaves and small yellow owers. The leaves are the source of many
unique phytochemicals, six of which have been characterized as
gymnemic acids. Many triterpene glycosides and triterpenoid
saponins have been identied in gurmar, which may contribute to
its glucose-regulating properties. A sweetness-suppressing
polypeptide called gurmarin, consisting of thirty-ve amino acids,
appears to fold itself into a three-dimensional structure that binds
with the sweet taste receptor, blocking the eects of sugar on the
tongue.1 The chemicals responsible for gurmar’s eects on sugar
metabolism in the body remain to be characterized.
THE SCIENCE OF GURMAR
Diabetes mellitus is a common and often disabling illness aecting
almost 16 million Americans. It is a condition in which sugar is not
normally managed, resulting in higher blood glucose levels.
Diabetes can be caused by inadequate production of insulin by cells
in the pancreas (Type I) or by a decreased sensitivity of cells to
insulin (Type II). Chronically elevated blood sugars can lead to
kidney, nerve, eye, and blood vessel damage; therefore, good
control of diabetes is essential to reducing the risk of disabling
complications. The appropriate use of supplemental insulin and oral
agents has led to marked improvements in the lives of people with
diabetes. Gurmar may be another useful agent in therapy of this
prevalent illness.
Studies in animals have shown that gurmar has many dierent
eects on the metabolism of sugar. One of the most consistent
ndings is the reduction of glucose absorption from the digestive
tract in animals given gurmar. Chemicals in gurmar inhibit the
uptake of sugar from the small intestines resulting in a lowering of
blood sugar levels.2, 3 In addition to blocking sugar absorption,
gurmar extracts have also been shown to inhibit the absorption of
oleic acid, a building block of fat in the body.4
Gurmar has other interesting eects on glucose metabolism.
Components of gurmar slow the uptake of glucose into muscles and
inhibit the storage of glycogen in the liver.5, 6 Absorption of
cholesterol is also reduced.7 The net eect of these various actions is
better sugar tolerance. Diabetic rats fed daily doses of gurmar
extracts showed lower blood sugar levels, higher insulin levels, and
a doubling in the number of cells in the pancreas responsible for
producing insulin.8 If these ndings are applicable to people,
gurmar could be an important advance in the treatment of diabetes
mellitus.
Although formal studies in human beings are limited, initial
reports are encouraging. Patients with insulin-dependent diabetes
given a daily dose of a gurmar extract had a reduction in their
insulin requirements and a lowering of their fasting glucose levels.9
Diabetic patients who did not require insulin also beneted from
gurmar, showing a reduction in their blood sugar levels and a
reduced need for their oral diabetic medicines.10 Five of the twenty-
two patients in the study were able to completely discontinue their
medications, maintaining control solely with gurmar. These reports
are intriguing and warrant further studies to dene the appropriate
role for gurmar in the treatment of diabetes.
Another application for this herb is in the treatment of obesity.
Neurophysiological studies have found that when gurmar is present
on the tongue, taste nerves fail to send the information about
sweetness to the brain.11 Along with its eect on decreasing the
absorption of sugar from the digestive tract, gurmar could be a
helpful nutritional aid to reduce the cravings and caloric load of
people with obesity. The possible value of gurmar in reducing
caloric intake was tested by a small study that found that people
given Gymnema sylvestre prior to a snack meal ate less total calories
than those that did not take the herb.12 A study from the 1960s
suggested that gurmar actually led to an increase in the weight of
rats, but this has not been reported in human beings.13 Given the
rising incidence of obesity in this culture and the relative lack of
success of most weight-loss programs, gurmar may represent a
valuable adjunct to a balanced nutritional and exercise program for
people trying to shed excessive pounds.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GURMAR
Gurmar is currently available from a few major herbal suppliers. If
you are wishing to use it as an aid in a weight-loss program, try
placing a pinch on your tongue, fteen minutes before your meal or
whenever you nd yourself about to indulge in a sweet craving that
you know is not in your best interest. In the Perfect Weight
programs at the Chopra Center, we recommend that our participants
take a taste of gurmar before their main meals and swallow a
capsule with each meal.
If you have diabetes mellitus and are using gurmar as a blood-
sugar-lowering agent, be certain to discuss its use with your health-
care provider before adding it to your diet. Because gurmar has
been shown to have measurable blood-glucose-lowering eects, you
must closely monitor your blood sugar levels to quantify its eects
and adjust your other medications accordingly.
Be sure to pay attention to the other essential components of a
healthy mind-body program, including a balanced diet, regular
exercise, and listening carefully to your internal signals of hunger
and satiety. Do not rely on gurmar as the sole approach to balancing
your metabolism. View it as a short-term ally as you establish long-
term healthy practices.
HOW TO USE GURMAR
Gurmar is available in 450-milligram capsules, standardized to 150
milligrams of gymnemic acids. For weight control, try breaking
open a tablet and placing a small amount on your tongue. Notice
how your craving for sweetness is altered as a result of the change
in your taste sensations. Ingest the rest of the capsule with your
meal. Do not take more than two doses per day while monitoring
your food intake.
If you have diabetes, rst consult with your health-care adviser
and make the commitment to closely monitor your blood sugar
levels. Begin with one dose in the morning and see how you feel and
what your glucose levels do. Wait at least two weeks before
increasing your dose to twice daily, before breakfast and in the late
afternoon. Watch closely for any signs that your blood sugar is
getting too low.
AYURVEDA AND GURMAR
According to Ayurveda, gurmar carries astringent and pungent
avors with a net heating eect on the physiology. It is pacifying to
Kapha and essentially neutral to Pitta and Vata.
In addition to its long-standing role in the treatment of diabetes,
gurmar has also been used in Ayurveda in the treatment of upper
respiratory infections and fevers. Applied topically to skin
infections, a paste of gurmar is used to draw out infection.
PRECAUTIONS
Although there have not been reports of serious hypoglycemic
reactions, you should be alert to the possibility, especially if you are
taking blood-sugar-lowering medications. A problem with the
regular application of gurmar to the tongue is that sweetly avored
foods become less palatable. Therefore, use gurmar to add
motivation to your weight-loss program, but put your attention on
developing good nutritional habits so that you can maintain your
appropriate weight through healthy diet and activity.
O
HYPERICUM PERFORATUM
FAMILIAR: St. John’s wort, hypericum
LATIN: Hypericum perforatum
f all the herbs in the modern botanical medicine chest, few
can rival hypericum’s meteoric rise to fame. It has received
enthusiastic reception from the lay public and grudging
acceptance from the scientic medical community. As a generally
safe and eective natural remedy for the treatment of mild to
moderate depression, St. John’s wort oers an alternative to the
standard antidepressant medications. It is readily available and
inexpensive, and carries minimal risk.
The origin of the name St. John’s wort (wort is from Middle
English for “plant”) is clouded in the mists of myth and history.
Some believe the name was applied because hypericum blooms in
late June, around the time that John the Baptist’s birthday is
celebrated. Others say its name was a reference to the red juice from
its petals, which presumably symbolized the blood of St. John.
However it acquired its name, St. John’s wort has been an honored
medicinal plant since the time of the ancient Greeks. Popular during
the Middle Ages, it has a traditional use in the treatment of a wide
range of psychic and physical ailments, from melancholy to varicose
veins.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Hypericum grows wild throughout Europe and the United States. It
is a perennial, sun-loving plant that grows up to three feet in height.
During the summer months it produces numerous yellow owers
with ve petals that are marked with small black dots and lines. The
owering tops and leaves of St. John’s wort are the source of the
medicinal constituents that are the object of intense scientic
interest.
Chemical analysis of hypericum reveals many dierent
components including naphthodianthrones, phloroglucinols,
avonoids, phenylpropanes, proanthocyanidins, and amino acids.
The most important medicinally active ingredients, which are
extracted in methanol, are found in the naphthodianthrone and
phloroglucinol portions. The natural chemicals that account for
hypericum’s antidepressant activity are not yet fully sorted out.
Hypericin, a naphthodianthrone, has been the leading candidate for
several years, and almost all commercially available St. John’s wort
is standardized to yield a .3 percent extract. However, several recent
studies have suggested that a phloroglucinol chemical called
hyperforin is the most likely constituent responsible for the
antidepressant actions of St. John’s wort.1, 2 This unique chemical
inuences several important brain neurochemicals that have been
associated with mood and emotions.
THE SCIENCE OF ST. JOHN’S WORT
Almost half a century ago it was discovered that people given
certain drugs experienced an improvement in their moods.
Subsequent research to identify the biochemical correlates of
depression has led to important discoveries about how the brain
functions in health and illness. We now know that antidepressant
medications work by restoring the balance of neurotransmitter
molecules in the brain.
Chemicals found in St. John’s wort have a signicant inuence on
the levels of many important brain chemicals. Recent studies on
hyperforin have shown that it increases the levels of serotonin,
norepinephrine, and dopamine by blocking their reuptake by nerve
cells.3 It also inuences other brain chemicals, including GABA and
glutamate.4
Other components of St. John’s wort may also play a role in its
antidepressant eects. Until very recently, hypericin was felt to be
the active ingredient and was thought to possibly act by inhibiting
one of the enzymes that breaks down norepinephrine, called
monoamine oxidase (MAO).5 More recent studies, however, have
suggested that at usual therapeutic doses, there are insucient
levels of hypericin levels to interfere with MAO.6, 7 Other
components of St. John’s wort may bind to the same anti-anxiety
receptors in the brain as the common tranquilizing drugs such as
Valium do.8
Regardless of exactly how St. John’s wort exerts its eects, there
is convincing evidence in support of its antidepressant ecacy.
More than twenty-ve studies have evaluated the eects of
hypericum on depression as compared with a placebo or a standard
antidepressant medication, with most showing the benet of St.
John’s wort. A meta-analysis that evaluated twenty-three
randomized clinical trials concluded that St. John’s wort was more
eective than a placebo for mild to moderate depression, with only
minor side eects.9 Compared with the older tricyclic antidepressant
medications, including imipramine and amitriptyline, hypericum
was equally eective with fewer adverse reactions.10, 11 In addition
to a reduction in their depressive symptoms, people taking St.
John’s wort usually show less anxiety and improved sleep. Overall,
between 60 and 80 percent of people respond to St. John’s wort
with some improvement in their mood.12, 13 Hypericum has not yet
been studied in comparison to the newer selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications such as
uoxetine (Prozac) or sertraline (Zoloft).
A recent report found hypericum to be useful in the condition
known as seasonal aective disorder or SAD. People with SAD
become depressed during the winter months when there are fewer
daylight hours, and one of the popular treatments for SAD is
exposure to bright lights for a couple of hours each morning. A
study of 168 people from England found that people taking St.
John’s wort had less anxiety, improved libido, and better sleep,
whether or not they also received phototherapy.14
Although scientic research has been limited, hypericum has
other potentially therapeutic properties. It has been shown to have
antiviral and antibacterial activity in laboratory studies.15–17
Components of hypericum may function as antioxidants and
suppress inammation.18, 19 Anticancer eects have also been
suggested for St. John’s wort.20, 21 Although we do not know if any
of these potential eects will prove to be of benet in people, it is
reassuring to know that there may be positive side eects to taking
hypericum.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ST. JOHN’S WORT
It is very important to remember that depression is potentially
serious, even life-threatening. If you are experiencing persistent sad
thoughts or have even entertained the idea of committing suicide,
seek professional help immediately. Hypericum seems to provide the
greatest benet for people with mild to moderate depression, but it
will not magically elevate your mood. A benecial eect may take
up to six weeks to be apparent, so patience is required. Although
some reports have suggested that higher doses of hypericum may
benet people who do not respond to lower ones, we do not
recommend going beyond the standard recommendations unless you
are under the care of a knowledgeable doctor.22 The safety of St.
John’s wort taken along with standard antidepressant medications
has not yet been adequately studied, so do not mix hypericum with
your existing drug, except under the supervision of your physician.
Also, do not stop your antidepressant or anti-anxiety medicines
without rst discussing the matter with your health-care provider.
HOW TO USE HYPERICUM
Most hypericum products contain 300 milligrams of hypericum
extract, standardized to deliver .3 percent hypericin, so that each
dose delivers .9 milligrams. Unfortunately, studies have shown that
many available compounds deliver substantially less than claimed
on the label. In a recent Los Angeles Times investigation, most
capsules or tablets delivered 20 to 90 percent of the stated amount,
although products by two companies, Nature’s Herbs and Natures
Resource, actually delivered more than the label stated.23 For a
complete review of this issue, check out the hypericum Web site at
www.hypericum.com.
The usual dose of St. John’s wort is 300 milligrams three times
daily, equivalent to a daily hypericin intake of 2.7 milligrams. As
noted earlier, some reports have suggested that a higher daily
intake, of 600 milligrams of hypericum extract three times daily,
may provide additional benet. With recent information that
hyperforin rather than hypericin is the most important
antidepressant component of St. John’s wort, it makes more sense
for herbal manufacturers to standardize the newly dened chemical
constituent.
Although there are liquid extracts of hypericum, we prefer the
standardized solid extracts. It may be discovered that more than one
component is important in St. John’s wort, and you are less likely to
miss one if you take a product that is closer to the whole herb.
It may take as long as six weeks to experience a therapeutic
benet. We often see people who tried hypericum for a short time at
less than the recommended dose without noticing any benet, but
when they took it regularly at the prescribed level, a therapeutic
eect was seen. If you do not see improvement after four to six
weeks, discuss your condition with your health-care provider for
other medical options, including prescribed medication.
PRECAUTIONS
When St. John’s wort was believed to act by inhibiting the enzyme
monoamine oxidase (MAO), warnings were sounded about potential
side eects in people ingesting certain substances while taking the
herb. Adverse reactions can occur with MAOinhibitor antidepressant
medications when people eat aged cheeses, dried sausages, alcohol,
or stimulant drugs, because they contain substances that potentiate
the eect of the medicines. Although there has been only one
reported case of a possible reaction in a woman taking hypericum
along with a stimulant drug for a bladder problem, it is prudent not
to combine St. John’s wort with MAO-inhibiting antidepressants or
stimulant drugs.
Another commonly discussed potential complication of St. John’s
wort is photosensitivity. Sunlight can change hypericum molecules
in the skin, provoking an allergic reaction. Although
photosensitivity is often talked about, it has only been reported once
in a woman who had been taking St. John’s wort for three years.24
The skin reaction rapidly subsided when hypericum was
discontinued.
Other adverse reactions are generally mild and include digestive
disturbances, fatigue, headache, and restlessness. In most studies,
minor side eects are seen as often in people taking a placebo as
those on St. John’s wort. It is a relatively rare person who needs to
discontinue the herb because of side eects.
Do not take St. John’s wort if you are pregnant, because safety
studies have not been done to determine whether it poses any risks
to the unborn child. Do not take St. John’s wort along with any
prescription medication without rst discussing it with your health-
care provider.
T
LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA
FAMILIAR: lavender
LATIN: Lavandula angustifolia
he sweet and pungent beckoning aroma of lavender reminds
us of its romantic history. The early Romans used lavender to
scent their baths, providing us with the explanation for this
fragrant herb’s name, which is derived from the Latin lavare,
meaning “to wash.” Native to the Mediterranean, lavender was
prized by the ancient Egyptians and Turks. When brought to Europe,
it found its way into churches and monasteries, where its pure
aroma was believed to ward o evil spirits and disease-causing
agents. For thousands of years lavender has been a popular herb
used in perfumes, soaps, and sachets.
Lavender’s color, pleasant aroma, and delicate owers contributed
to its long-standing reputation as a promoter of romance and
dreamy tranquillity. Modern studies have demonstrated that many
of lavender’s traditional uses are based upon scientically veriable
eects. Components of lavender carry antiseptic properties, while its
leaves, owers, and essential oil have a documented calming
inuence on the mind.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
There are twenty-eight known species of lavender, an evergreen,
shrubby perennial. It has small, slender leaves, and its owers are
spikes of aromatic, two-lobed owers that are usually purple or
blue, but can vary from soft pink to bright pink. Depending on the
species, it grows from eight to forty inches in height, and its leaves
and bracts vary from a rich green to silver gray. Lavender owers
have a bittersweet smell, while its leaves have a balsamic scent.
The aromatic oil of lavender is extracted from the oil glands of
the aboveground parts of the plant. The species known for the best-
quality essential oil are L. stoechas and L. angustifolia. Up to 1.5
percent of the plant is composed of volatile oils that contain a
variety of tannins, terpenes, and coumarins. Chemicals identied in
lavender, including linalyl acetate, linalool, and lavendalol have
have measurable calming eects in animals.
THE SCIENCE OF LAVENDER
Lavender oil has traditionally been used as an antiseptic, a mild
sedative, and a painkiller. Modern studies have shown lavender to
have an antiseptic eect on both bacteria and fungi.1, 2 This
property has been exploited to treat conditions ranging from wound
infections to diaper rash. As a component of mouthwash, lavender
may also reduce the chance for gum infections.
Midwives have extolled the virtues of lavender since the Middle
Ages. It was burned in delivery rooms to reduce infections and used
in sitz baths to soothe discomfort after delivery. Recent studies have
suggested that lavender oil added to a bath may reduce some of a
woman’s discomfort after childbirth, providing tentative support for
one of its traditional applications.3
Lavender is most widely recommended for its sedative properties.
An Austrian study showed that lavender oil and two of its
components had pronounced tranquilizing eects in mice.4 At
sucient concentrations, lavender was not only sedating in normal
mice but had a substantial calming eect in animals that were
previously given a stimulating dose of caeine. A French report
found that lavender oil was sedating, but that its ecacy diminished
after ve days.5 An animal study from England showed that
lavender was even able to reduce stress and travel sickness in pigs.6
Although lavender has been used to calm human minds for
millennia, its sedating inuence in people has not been well
documented. Following the French penchant for fragrances, a study
from Lyon, France, reported that people exposed to lavender oil had
reductions in several physiological measures of stress.7 In an English
report, patients admitted to an intensive-care unit were studied to
see if there were benets of adding lavender oil to massage therapy.
Although no objective dierences were found between those that
did and did not experience the aromatherapy, patients who were
exposed to lavender reported less anxiety and a better mood.8
A novel use for lavender oil was recently described by a Scottish
group of researchers who applied essential oils including lavender,
thyme, rosemary, and cedarwood to the scalps of people with a
condition known as alopecia areata. People with this problem,
usually resulting from an autoimmune inammatory process, lose
patches of hair. This study, in which essential oils were massaged
into patients’ bald spots, reported improvement in over 40 percent
of those receiving the essential oils, compared with only 15 percent
treated with a non-herbalized carrier oil.9
THE PRACTICAL USE OF LAVENDER
In ancient herbal compendiums, lavender was reported to reduce
the sting of insect bites, cool the pain of burns, soothe sore throats,
relieve headaches, and calm stomach upsets. Applied to emotional
concerns, lavender has a traditional role in the treatment of
insomnia, anxiety, and melancholia. Water made from lavender
owers, applied as a skin toner, renews cells and treats acne. This
multitalented plant can aid in digestive problems ranging from a
gassy stomach to bad breath.
Lavender aromatherapy provides a subtle soothing inuence. We
regularly recommend adding drops of lavender fragrance to massage
and facial oils to encourage relaxation. At the Chopra Center we
apply eye packs and warmed shoulder pillows scented with lavender
for relaxation before treatments.
Lavender is an important component of our sleep routine, in
which we recommend a few drops of the essential oil added to a
bath before bed. As a component of our prenatal program, new
mothers are encouraged to take lavender sitz baths after giving
birth, to soothe irritated tissues. Lavender tea is benecial to calm
mild anxiety.
HOW TO USE LAVENDER
As a tea for anxiety, tension headaches, and depression, steep two
teaspoons of dried lavender owers in one cup of boiling water. Add
a few drops of lavender essential oil to a neutral massage oil and
apply to the temples and nape of the neck for neck strain and
headaches. A drop of the undiluted essential oil can be applied
directly to insect bites and stings to relieve burning.
For mild digestive upsets, try adding a few drops of lavender oil
to a sugar cube and allow it to slowly dissolve in your mouth. For
irritated tissues or muscles, add ve to ten drops to your bath water.
As a sleeping aid, diuse the essential oil in your bedroom, or keep
a lavender ower sachet on your pillow. Children who are having
trouble settling down to sleep often respond to this approach.
AYURVEDA AND LAVENDER
Although lavender was not known to the original Ayurvedic doctors,
its herbal energetics can be understood in Ayurvedic terms. Its
mildly pungent taste and slightly cooling inuence make it a useful
herb for all three mind-body constitutions. Lavender oil pacies
both Pitta and Kapha and has a balancing eect on Vata. It can calm
an agitated mind without creating undue dullness.
PRECAUTIONS
Other than a rare skin sensitivity to the essential oil, this gentle
plant has a high safety prole.
LINUM USITATISSIMUM
FAMILIAR: axseed, linseed
LATIN: Linum usitatissimum
SANSKRIT: uma
lax has been part of the diets of human beings since the dawn of
civilization. Archeologists have discovered irrigation systems in
Fseven-thousand-year-old Mesopotamian cities that supported
the cultivation of ax. Flax was one of the major sources of
clothing ber until the late eighteenth century, when cotton
became popular. Native to the temperate regions of Asia and
Europe, ax was introduced to North America in the early 1600s,
and it ourished there. It is now grown throughout the world as a
source of food, ber, and oil.
Flaxseeds are a valuable health-promoting nutritional substance.
In addition to providing a rich source of both soluble and insoluble
ber, ax supplies important omega-3 fatty acids and
phytoestrogens. In the Ayurvedic tradition, ax has been used in the
treatment of respiratory disorders, digestive complaints, and urinary
tract irritations. Hippocrates described the benets of axseed in the
treatment of abdominal cramping in the seventh century B.C.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Flax is an annual plant that grows two to four feet in height. It has a
relatively thin stalk with elongated leaves and attractive blue or
white owers. Each small fruit yields ten yellowish to dark brown
seeds, which are harvested in early autumn. The seeds are odorless,
with an outer mucilaginous wall that swells when exposed to water.
Flaxseeds consist of 20 percent protein, 40 percent fat, and 28
percent ber, with the remainder composed of water, vitamins, and
minerals. Abundant in polyunsaturated fatty acids, axseeds are
among the richest natural sources of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an
omega-3 fatty acid that has been shown to help lower cholesterol
levels and dampen inammatory reactions.
THE SCIENCE OF FLAXSEED
Several studies have indicated a benecial role for axseed on
health. Adding axseed to the diet may help lower serum
cholesterol levels in both animals and human beings. A recent study
in rabbits showed that supplementing their diet with axseeds
reduced the deposition of fat into major blood vessels by over two-
thirds, even when the alpha-linolenic component was removed.1 In
another recent study involving rabbits, a phytoestrogen component
of axseed, SDG, was found to reduce serum cholesterol, increase
HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), and reduce the amount of
atherosclerosis.2
Studies in people have also suggested some benet from axseed
in lowering cholesterol levels. In a Canadian study of people with
high cholesterol levels given muns with 50 grams of defatted
axseed each day, there was a small but signicant reduction in
total and LDL cholesterol levels.3 In another report of people
consuming 50 grams of axseed daily, there was a reduction in their
LDL cholesterol levels of 8 percent after only one month.4 Although
not every study has shown a denite benet of axseed on
cholesterol levels, most reports have suggested that axseed
provides a safe and moderately eective way to lower one of the
major risk factors for heart disease.
In addition to serving as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, axseed
is the highest natural supplier of lignans, which are a type of
phytoestrogen. Several studies in animals have suggested that the
lignans in axseed have protective eects against hormonally
sensitive tumors, particularly breast cancer, but also colon cancer
and malignant melanoma.5–7 Lignans are known to alter the
metabolism of sex hormones, which may partially explain their
benecial role in cancer.8 Although we do not yet know how and to
what extent axseed can inuence our susceptibility to cancer, there
is convincing evidence in human beings that adding axseed to the
diet has potentially important eects on hormone levels.9
A potentially useful role for axseed is in the treatment of
inammatory conditions. In animal studies, the high concentration
of omega-3 fatty acids in axseed has been shown to reduce
inammatory prostaglandins. This property has been tested in
people in two autoimmune inammatory conditions: rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). In a report
from Finland of twenty-two patients with RA, the addition of
axseed to their diet did not prove benecial in reducing their
symptoms.10 In a Canadian study of nine people with inammatory
problems in their kidneys resulting from SLE, axseed resulted in
many positive changes, including improvements in kidney function,
a reduction in inammatory chemicals in the blood, and lower
cholesterol levels.11 Clearly, further research is indicated to assess
the potential role of axseed in combating inammatory and
autoimmune disorders.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF FLAXSEED
Adding axseed to your diet is one of the easiest and least expensive
ways to enhance your health. In addition to the potential benets of
axseed in reducing your risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer,
axseed is an excellent source of ber that improves bowel
function.12 You can use whole axseeds, or grind them in a coee
grinder. Flaxseed can be added to granola, sprinkled on sautéed
vegetables or combined with wheat our for breads and muns.
Whole axseed can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.
Milled axseed should be refrigerated once ground and used within
one month.
Several farms and dairies are adding axseed to the feed of
chickens and cows in order to increase the amount of omega-3 fatty
acids in eggs and milk. It will be interesting to see if these food
products can help lower cholesterol levels.
Traditionally, axseed has been used as a poultice for skin
infections and abscesses. A few tablespoonfuls are wrapped in a
white cotton bandage and boiled in water until the seeds are soft.
They are then applied to the wound and covered for fteen minutes
every few hours. The axseed has a drawing eect and maintains
heat in the area to increase circulation.
HOW TO USE FLAXSEED
Flaxseeds are readily available in health-food stores and many
grocery stores. The usual dosage in studies that have shown a
benet from the addition of axseed is 50 grams per day, providing
about 6 grams of dietary ber. Fifty grams is equivalent to about
one-quarter cup of axseeds daily. Use axseeds liberally in your
cooking and baking, and your body will benet.
AYURVEDA AND FLAXSEED
According to Ayurveda, raw axseeds are soothing and emollient,
whereas roasted seeds have a drier, hotter quality. Flaxseeds carry
the primary tastes of sweet and astringent, with a heating potency.
They are pacifying to Vata, but may be mildly aggravating to Pitta
and Kapha when taken in high dosages.
PRECAUTIONS
As a component of human diets for thousands of years, axseed is a
very safe nutritional product. Respiratory allergies have been
reported in textile workers who inhale the bers of ax, but this is
not relevant to the internal ingestion of the seeds. Flaxseed acts as a
mild bulk laxative, similar to psyllium. It is more appropriately used
as a preventive bowel tonic than for the acute treatment of
constipation.
T
MELALEUCA ALTERNIFOLIA
FAMILIAR: tea tree
LATIN: Melaleuca alternifolia
he tea tree has been valued by Australian Aborigines since
before recorded history. Its name is attributed to the
eighteenth-century English explorer Captain James Cook,
who added the leaves of the tree to an herbal brew in order to make
his crew’s beer more palatable. A century and a half later, an
Australian surgeon described the use of tea tree oil as an antiseptic
to reduce surgical infections. A resurgence of interest in tea tree has
been fueled by studies over the past ten years, which have
conrmed its value as an eective and safe natural germicidal agent
in a wide range of conditions from acne to athlete’s foot.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
There are over three hundred members of the melaleuca family, but
it is Melaleuca alternifolia that has risen to prominence for its
benecial essential oil. A rapidly growing evergreen tree that
reaches twenty-ve feet in height, it has a soft, papery bark with
clusters of small white owers. Native to southeast Australia, tea
trees are now grown commercially in Africa, Central America, and
India.
The essential oil of tea tree is obtained from the leaves through
steam distillation. It contains a number of terpenes, of which
terpinen-4-ol is believed to be responsible for its benecial anti-
infective activity. Other volatile constituents, including limonene,
alpha-terpinen, cineole, and aromadendrene, are present in lower
concentrations and appear responsible for the occasional skin
irritations that are reported by people sensitive to tea tree oil. Trees
that produce high levels of terpinen-4-ol are being propagated in
order to maximize the therapeutic-to-toxic ratio of essential oil
components.1
THE SCIENCE OF TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil rst played an important role in Western society during
World War II, when it was added to machinery oil for equipment
used in weapons production. The antibiotic properties of tea tree
were said to reduce the infections in factory workers who injured
their hands on the munitions production line. The commercial
development of Australian tea tree farms in the early 1980s
stimulated scientic research into its therapeutic eects. Many
studies published within the past decade have documented unique
benecial qualities of tea tree oil.
Tea tree has demonstrated value in the treatment of fungal skin
infections. A study evaluating the benet of a 10-percent tea tree oil
cream applied to people with athlete’s foot caused by the fungus
Tinea pedis showed that the cream resulted in clinical improvement
in over 60 percent of people, and the fungus was completely
eliminated in about 30 percent.2 A study from New York looked at
the role of tea tree in the treatment of the most common nail fungus
called onychomycosis and found that tea tree oil was as eective as
the most popular pharmaceutical medicine.3 Laboratory studies
looking at tea tree oil’s potency against a wide range of potential
disease-causing fungal organisms have shown it to be ecacious at
concentrations readily achieved by applying the oil to the skin.4
Tea tree oil has been consistently eective against dierent
species of candida. This ubiquitous yeast can cause both vaginal and
oral infections, and is capable of invading deeper tissues if a
person’s immune system is compromised. Studies from the
Netherlands have demonstrated that tea tree oil is active against
most species of candida, even after it has been diluted in a
suppository.5 As a component of a mouthwash, it may be helpful in
the treatment of oral candida infections.
Tea tree oil is also eective against a wide range of bacteria. It
has been studied as a potential antimicrobial agent in the treatment
of skin infections and has been found active against many
potentially harmful bacteria. Tea tree oil seems to have a selective
eect against potentially harmful bacteria while only minimally
interfering with the normal bacteria that usually inhabit our skin.6 It
is active against the germs that cause acne and has been shown to
be as eective as the most commonly used topical acne medication,
benzoyl peroxide.7, 8 Although tea tree takes somewhat longer to
act, it has fewer negative side eects.
Tea tree oil has been studied in the treatment of burns. It is
eective in reducing some of the common infections encountered in
burn units, but other potentially serious germs are not sensitive to
tea tree oil.9 Therefore it is not recommended for patients with
severe scaldings, but may still have value in the treatment of minor
burn injuries.
A potentially important use for tea tree oil is in reducing the
spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus infections (MRSAs).
This virulent bacteria is commonly found in hospitals and nursing
homes, where it is often spread by sta members. In an Australian
study, all sixty-six samples of MRSA were sensitive to tea tree oil at
relatively low concentrations. Adding tea tree oil to hand-washing
lotions may provide a safe and eective alternative to the chemical
antibacterial soaps currently in widespread use.10
THE PRACTICAL USE OF TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil is nding its way into an expanding range of health-care
products. As an essential oil, it can be applied directly to fungal skin
infections such as athlete’s foot. Most people tolerate the direct
application of pure tea tree oil, although occasionally it results in a
skin reaction requiring its discontinuation. The oil can also be
directly applied to acne sores, but again, if irritation develops, it
should be stopped. As a component of a lotion or cream, tea tree oil
can be applied to minor cuts, abrasions, and burns.
Tea tree oil is showing up in toothpaste and mouthwash. You can
make your own solution by adding drops of tea tree oil to water for
use as a mouthwash or throat gargle. Deodorants, shampoos, throat
lozenges, soaps, and even animal-care products with tea tree oil are
now being sold in the marketplace. Capitalizing on its potency
against candida, douches and suppositories containing tea tree oil
are potentially useful for the treatment of vaginal yeast infections.
Tea tree is active against another common vaginal infectious agent,
trichomonas. A study from the 1960s suggested that a vaginal
douche with tea tree oil could be useful in the treatment of cervical
and vaginal infections, but needed to be applied weekly for four to
six weeks.11 Tea tree oil vaginal suppositories are currently
available and may be eective, but can occasionally cause vaginal
irritation that may be dicult to distinguish from the symptoms of
the original infection.12 If itching and a discharge persist after ve
days, the tea tree product should be discontinued and medical
advice sought.
HOW TO USE TEA TREE OIL
Every household should keep some tea tree oil close at hand. It can
be applied directly to skin irritations, or diluted into a bland cream
or lotion. It mixes well with a vitamin E cream or aloe vera gel for
minor abrasions and burns. Add ten drops of tea tree oil to four
ounces of warm water, and use as a gargle or mouthwash. If you are
using tea tree oil in the treatment of athlete’s foot or other minor
fungal infections, apply it twice daily and observe the problem area
to see if there is improvement after several days of usage. For
stubborn fungal infections, application of tea tree oil may be
necessary for months until the problem is resolved. Commercially
available skin creams containing tea tree can be useful to treat and
prevent diaper rash, but watch your baby’s skin closely to ensure
that he or she is not developing a negative reaction.
AYURVEDA AND TEA TREE OIL
From an Ayurvedic perspective, tea tree oil carries the bitter,
pungent, astringent, and sweet tastes. It cools the inammation of
Pitta, clears the congestion of Kapha, and is essentially neutral
toward Vata. Tea tree oil has a net cooling inuence on the system.
PRECAUTIONS
Up to ten percent of people may have a skin sensitivity to tea tree
oil.13 Although the chemical constituent cineole is usually held
responsible, several other components can also be irritating in
susceptible people.14 A tea made from the leaves of the tea tree is
commonly used by Aboriginal natives, but generally should be
avoided due to concerns about toxicity. A case has been reported of
accidental poisoning in a two-year-old boy who ingested two
T
MUCUNA PRURIENS
FAMILIAR: atmagupta, cowage, cowitch plant
LATIN: Mucuna pruriens
SANSKRIT: atmagupta, kapikacchu, vanari
he ancient Ayurvedic physician Sushruta described
atmagupta as one of the premiere rejuvenative substances for
both men and women. It has been considered a powerful
aphrodisiac for thousands of years, which, according to Ayurveda,
implies enhancing both sexual potency and fertility. Atmagupta is
held in high esteem as a tonic herb to reverse the aging process.
Modern studies have demonstrated a therapeutic role for it in the
treatment of Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, which may partially
explain its reputation as a vitality-restoring herb.
As a member of the legume family, atmagupta is a nutritionally
rich substance containing over 25 percent protein.1 It is also a rich
source of complex carbohydrates and ber. It contains many unique
alkaloids that have received only preliminary scientic
investigation. The ecacy of atmagupta in the treatment of
Parkinson’s disease is due in part to its ability to generate L-dopa (L-
dihydroxyphenylalanine) from simpler amino acids. The
pharmacological mechanisms of its other demonstrated medicinal
properties, from lowering blood sugar to treating snakebite, remain
to be elucidated.
BOTANICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Mucuna pruriens is a climbing legume that thrives in tropical
climates. It grows wild in India and the Caribbean, and has been
identied in southern Florida. The name pruriens (from the Latin
prurire, to itch) refers to the irritation caused by tiny barbs on its
pods that attach to the skin of unsuspecting harvesters. Ayurvedic
doctors use the processed pods to treat internal parasites, but it is
the inner seed that is the primary medicinal product.
The plant is an annual climber with slender vines and clusters of
three leaves. It produces inch-and-a-half-wide owers that yield the
two- to three-inch-long curved pods containing the dark seeds.
Several unique alkaloids, including mucunine, mucunadine,
prurienine, and prurieninine, have been identied in atmagupta, as
well as a variety of organic acids, sterols, tannins, and L-dopa and
other amino acids. The complex sugars of atmagupta are broken
down with boiling, but the L-dopa content is not substantially
aected.2
THE SCIENCE OF ATMAGUPTA
Although atmagupta has been traditionally extolled as a
rejuvenative substance, scientic investigation into this tonic herb
has been in two main areas, the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
and the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Although Parkinson’s disease
was rst described in the West by James Parkinson in the early
nineteenth century, a neurological condition that included tremor,
slow movements, and muscle stiness was known to ancient
Ayurvedic doctors as Kampavata.3 We now attribute this disabling
degenerative condition to diminishing amounts of the natural brain
chemical dopamine. The most eective modern treatment for this
illness is to enhance the production of dopamine by providing its
precursor chemical, L-dopa, which is converted in the brain to
dopamine. Atmagupta has the natural ability to generate L-dopa in
concentrations up to 6 percent of its dry weight when grown under
ideal conditions.4 A recent scientic study of sixty patients with
Parkinson’s disease found that those taking atmagupta showed
substantial reductions in their symptoms and improvement in their
overall quality of life within twelve weeks of treatment.5 This
conrmed an earlier report of twenty-three patients given
atmagupta who demonstrated benets in every aspect of the illness,
including reduction in muscle stiness and tremors, along with
improvements in walking, dressing, and speech function.6 An
interesting aspect of this study was the recognition that the
calculated dose of L-dopa was generally lower than is usually
required to see a therapeutic eect, and conventional side eects
were noticeably absent. These observations suggest that other
unidentied constituents of atmagupta may have therapeutic value
and help to counteract the side eects of the “active” chemicals.
Atmagupta has also shown potential medicinal benet in the
treatment of diabetes mellitus. Diabetic rabbits given atmagupta had
signicant reductions in their blood sugar levels.7 A study published
over thirty years ago in rats found that atmagupta reduced both
blood glucose and cholesterol levels.8 Although Mucuna pruriens has
been used classically to stabilize metabolic function in people,
scientic research has not yet been focused on its value in the
treatment of diabetes in human beings.
An interesting study reported from London looked at the eects of
Mucuna pruriens on the treatment of snakebite. Although,
fortunately, this is not a common concern in most Western
countries, it is a recurring health problem in many tropical regions
of the world. Some snake venoms act by causing the blood to clot,
and eective herbal approaches, including atmagupta, have been
shown to act by inhibiting the clotting cascade.9 The potential
benet of atmagupta on a whole range of clotting disorders remains
to be explored.
Science has just scratched the surface of the therapeutic potential
of atmagupta. Its role in the treatment of impotency and infertility is
an area of great potential value, and its traditional use as a
rejuvenative substance is worthy of serious scientic evaluation.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ATMAGUPTA
Atmagupta is traditionally used as a tonic for men and women in
conditions of low energy and reduced sexual desire or potency. A
teaspoon of the powdered seeds is mixed in sweetened warm milk.
It is a common component of Ayurvedic rejuvenative formulas that
include ashwagandha, shatavari, or amalaki. It can be taken on a
daily basis or prior to an anticipated intimate encounter.
Studies using atmagupta for Parkinson’s disease have used
starting doses of approximately 5 grams, gradually increasing the
amount as needed. If you have Parkinson’s disease, discuss the use
of atmagupta with your health-care provider before using it. The
interaction of atmagupta with standard Parkinson’s disease
medications has not been studied, and therefore adding this herbal
medicine should only be done under close medical supervision.
Atmagupta is used in lower doses as a rejuvenating substance and
has a long-established traditional history of safety.
HOW TO USE ATMAGUPTA
Atmagupta is not yet readily available in the West, although it is
nding its way into more Ayurvedic herbal mixtures. It is usually
combined with ashwagandha as part of a male potency formula,
where it is present in doses of 100 to 200 milligrams. Powdered
atmagupta is also available from a few herbal importers. The
suggested dose to enhance vitality is 1 teaspoon daily, mixed in
warm milk.
AYURVEDA AND ATMAGUPTA
Atmagupta carries the sweet and bitter tastes. It has a warming
eect on the physiology and is useful in balancing all three doshas.
In excess, it can increase Kapha and Pitta. It is a valuable Vata
balancing tonic.
PRECAUTIONS
The pods of Mucuna pruriens can cause pronounced itching. In a
1985 case, a Hispanic New Jersey couple developed an irritating
rash as a result of exposure to what they called “voodoo beans.”10
The emergency medical technician and the emergency room nurse
who treated them developed the same skin irritation. The beans
were later identied as Mucuna pruriens. The inner seeds, which are
used medicinally, do not have an irritating eect.
An outbreak of toxic psychosis was reported from Mozambique in
1990.11 During a time of severe famine, residents of a rural district
developed headache and confusion, attributed to the consumption of
excessive amounts of Mucuna pruriens seeds as a source of
nourishment. Because of a water shortage, the seeds were not
properly cooked, which contributed to the toxic eects.
Although these rare complications are interesting, they are clearly
extreme and not relevant to the usual therapeutic use of atmagupta,
which has a high safety prole as a rejuvenative tonic. Caution
should be exercised if you are taking it with any other medications
that may act upon the nervous system.
H
OCIMUM SANCTUM
FAMILIAR: holy basil, sacred basil
LATIN: Ocimum sanctum
SANSKRIT: Tulsi, Tulasi
oly basil has both medicinal and spiritual signicance in
Ayurveda. It is sacred to Lord Vishnu, the Hindu god of
preservation, and is considered purifying to body, mind, and
spirit. A living tulsi plant is kept in many Indian homes, where it is
endowed with a sacred aura and believed to provide divine
protection for the household. Rosaries made from its cut stems are
commonly used as meditation beads.
Closely related to the sweet basil plant widely available in the
West, holy basil has been used as a valued culinary and medicinal
herb. Its traditional use has been in the treatment of colds and us,
where its purifying actions are believed to cleanse the respiratory
tract of toxins. It is also helpful in the relief of digestive gas and
bloating. Recent scientic reports have conrmed the healing
properties of holy basil in medical conditions ranging from diabetes
to cancer.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Basil is found on almost every continent, although Ocimum sanctum
is native to the Indian subcontinent. It grows to about eighteen
inches in height, with oval serrated leaves and delicate lavender-
colored owers. The plant is an annual in the wild but can be
maintained as a perennial by trimming it before it is allowed to
form seeds. The fruit consists of tiny rust-colored nuts.
The leaves are the richest source of essential oil, which contains
eugenol, nerol, camphor, and a variety of terpenes and avonoids. A
recent analysis of holy basil oil revealed ve fatty acids, including
stearic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. The triglyceride
component was found to have potent anti-inammatory properties.
The oil is antiseptic against a wide range of disease-causing
organisms including bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Both water- and
alcohol-based extracts of basil leaves have demonstrated
pharmacological activity.
THE SCIENCE OF TULSI
Holy basil oil has antioxidant and anti-inammatory activity.
Several studies have demonstrated that constituents of holy basil
can neutralize free radicals and inhibit the production of
inammatory prostaglandins.1, 2 An animal study found an extract
of holy basil to be essentially equivalent to a standard dose of
aspirin.3 These eects may explain one of tulsi’s traditional roles in
the treatment of pain and arthritis.
The antioxidant properties of holy basil may also underlie its
eectiveness in dampening the eects of stress on the physiology. A
study in rats subjected to restraint stress found that those taking
holy basil had less derangement in their biochemistry than did
animals receiving a placebo.4 In addition to its ability to dampen the
chemical changes of stress, holy basil also appears to inuence the
neurochemistry of the brain in a manner similar to antidepressant
medications.5 Holy basil has even been shown to reduce the levels
of stress hormones produced when an animal is subjected to chronic
noise stress.6
These interesting pharmacological properties have recently been
applied to dierent clinical situations with potentially important
results. A number of studies have looked at the ability of holy basil
to protect healthy cells from the toxicity associated with radiation
and chemotherapy for cancer.7, 8 Components of holy basil
consistently limited the damage that radiation causes to the bone
marrow and digestive tract in animals. When the cells were looked
at microscopically, those animals that received holy basil had less
chromosomal damage than those that received a placebo.9
Holy basil has also been shown to protect the heart from damage
caused by a widely used chemotherapy drug, adriamycin.10 It seems
to work by protecting components of heart and liver cells from
oxidative damage caused by free radicals generated by the
chemotherapy. Other studies have shown holy basil to have a
protective eect against chemical carcinogens.11, 12 Adding to its
potential value in the prevention and treatment of cancer, holy basil
has also been shown to enhance dierent aspects of the immune
response in animals.13
Another medical condition that holy basil may benet is diabetes.
Animal studies have shown holy basil to have substantial blood-
sugar-lowering eects, similar to standard oral diabetes
medications.14, 15 It also appears capable of lowering cholesterol
and triglyceride levels.16 Diabetes is one of the few areas where holy
basil has been formally tested in people. In a recent study of forty
patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM),
people taking 2.5 grams of dried tulsi leaf powder every morning
showed signicant reductions in their blood glucose levels rst
thing in the morning as well as after their meals.17 In addition to
lower glucose levels, they also had a mild reduction in their
cholesterol levels. This simple intervention could have a substantial
impact on this common health problem, particularly in regions
where expensive diabetes medication is out of reach for many
people.
One of tulsi’s traditional uses has been in the treatment of
digestive disorders ranging from heartburn to bloating. Studies in
animals have suggested that there is a scientic basis to these long-
standing claims. Holy basil has been shown to have signicant anti-
ulcer activity.18 It reduces the eect of peptic acid or irritating
drugs on the stomach lining and increases the production of
protective stomach mucus.19
This popular plant has many potential therapeutic applications. In
addition to the uses reviewed above, tulsi may possess useful
antibiotic activity, have a blood-pressure-lowering eect, and be
eective as a birth-control agent. This sacred healing plant deserves
further scientic attention.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF HOLY BASIL
Tulsi leaves are traditionally used to make a strong tea for the
treatment of colds, us, and sore throats. Fresh, dried, or powdered
leaves are taken after meals to soothe digestive upset. The extract
can be applied directly to acne lesions, where its antibiotic eect
hastens healing. The juice of the fresh leaves can also be applied
topically to skin conditions ranging from allergic rashes to athlete’s
foot.
If you are taking holy basil for its stress-relieving properties, I
recommend you obtain seeds or cuttings and grow your own plant.
Place the seeds between warm, moist paper towels for a day and
then bury them a half-inch under the surface in rich potting soil. A
sprout will break through within ten days. Once it reaches about a
foot in height, pinch back any owers to keep it from going to seed,
or allow it to seed and start a new generation. Nibble on a few
leaves every day for their health-promoting eects.
HOW TO USE HOLY BASIL
Most Indian food stores carry tulsi leaves in a dried or powdered
form. If you are taking holy basil for a specic health concern, such
as diabetes or indigestion, take a standard dose of one-half teaspoon
three times daily after meals. If you are using it as a nutritional aid
while undergoing chemotherapy, prepare a strong holy basil tea by
placing one tablespoon of dried leaves per pint of hot water and
sipping it throughout the day, aiming to drink two to four pints
within twenty-four hours. If you are inspired to grow your own
plant, use holy basil freely in your cooking as well as in the making
of freshly brewed tea.
If you cannot nd holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), common sweet
basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a reasonable substitute. Although not as
extensively studied as holy basil, sweet basil does appear to share
many of the same phytochemical and medicinal properties.
TULSI AND AYURVEDA
According to Ayurveda, Tulsi creates purity and lightness in the
body. It carries the bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes, and
generates a warming inuence on the physiology. It has a sweet
post-digestive eect. Its eect on the doshas is predominantly
Kapha-reducing, but it can be used to pacify Vata and Pitta as well.
In severely overheated individuals, Tulsi can have a mildly Pitta-
aggravating eect.
PRECAUTIONS
Holy basil is generally a very safe healing herb. Studies from the
1970s suggested that holy basil might have a mild anti-fertility
eect in animals. Although this has not been shown to occur in
people, if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, do not
take medicinal doses of holy basil.
K
PHYLLANTHUS NIRURI
FAMILIAR: phyllanthus
LATIN: Phyllanthus niruri, Phyllanthus amanus
SANSKRIT: bhumyaamalaki, bahupatra
nown for thousands of years to Ayurvedic doctors,
phyllanthus has been respected as a detoxing herb
throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. It has been used
in conditions ranging from recurrent fevers to skin disorders to
hiccups. Ayurvedic physicians recognized the ability of phyllanthus
to reduce the jaundice associated with liver ailments. Recent
scientic investigations have supported the role of phyllanthus as a
liver protectant, particularly in response to the hepatitis B virus.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Phyllanthus niruri is a small branching annual plant that is one and
one-half to two feet in height at maturity. It has many small leaves
with very small owers. The young leaves are used for infectious
and inammatory conditions, while the juice of the leaves is applied
to irritated skin lesions. The leaves, stems, owers, and roots all
have medicinal value.
Several unique chemical constituents have been characterized in
phyllanthus. Lignans called phyllanthum and hypophyl-lanthum
have been identied in the leaves. Organic acids and alkaloids have
been found in the leaves and roots. Extracts of phyllanthus have
been demonstrated to inhibit the replication of viral DNA, block the
transmission of pain impulses, reduce muscle spasms, and lower
blood sugar, but the precise chemicals responsible for these specic
eects remain to be fully dened.
THE SCIENCE OF PHYLLANTHUS
Dozens of scientic studies have been published on phyllanthus over
the past fteen years. Most research has focused on the ability of
chemicals in phyllanthus to bind to various components of the
hepatitis B virus. Early studies in mice suggested that extracts of
phyllanthus could eliminate the markers of viral infection in a high
percentage of animals.1 These encouraging laboratory results were
subsequently applied to people who were carriers of the hepatitis B
virus. In a study from India, almost 60 percent of people with
hepatitis B showed conversion of their blood tests from positive to
negative.2 Further studies claried the role of phyllanthus as
binding to proteins produced by the virus and reducing the activity
of viral DNA.3, 4
Many studies, but not every one, have shown positive results. A
report from Thailand found that only 5 to 6 percent of adults
carrying hepatitis B virus showed conversion of their blood tests
from positive to negative.5 A Bombay study of thirty chronic carriers
of hepatitis failed to nd any clearing of the markers for hepatitis
after one to two months of treatment with phyllanthus.6 These
contradictory ndings highlight the fact that science rarely moves in
a straight line. However, in view of the limited treatment options
available to people with chronic hepatitis, phyllanthus is a potential
bright spot on the therapeutic horizon.
Phyllanthus has also shown potential in the treatment of other
viral infections. Constituents of phyllanthus have demonstrated
activity against the Epstein-Barr virus, the infectious agent
responsible for mononucleosis and loosely associated with chronic
fatigue syndrome.7 Other researchers have suggested that
phyllanthus may be active against the HIV virus responsible for
AIDS. A report from Japan found that an extract of phyllanthus
could inhibit the enzyme that enables HIV to reproduce itself.8
These preliminary laboratory ndings are encouraging, but we have
some distance to go before they can be systematically applied to
people with AIDS.
Phyllanthus also shows promise in protecting the liver from other
toxic insults. A recent report found that it reduced the damage to
liver enzymes caused by excessive alcohol.9 Another study
demonstrated the ability of phyllanthus to reduce the liver damage
caused by toxic chemicals, including carbon tetrachloride and
galactosamine.10 How phyllanthus protects the liver remains to be
discovered, but it seems that this ancient healing plant contains
potential healing treasures.
In addition to its value in liver conditions, phyllanthus has been
studied for its possible therapeutic role in several other medical
conditions. In both India and Latin America, it is a popular remedy
for kidney stones. Researchers in Brazil have studied the eects of
phyllanthus on the urinary system and have made some interesting
discoveries. In one report it was found to reduce the likelihood of
the smooth muscle lining of the urinary tract to go into spasm.11
This relaxation eect could improve the ease with which small
kidney stones are passed. In a recent report, phyllanthus was found
to inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate crystals in kidney cells.12
Phyllanthus has also shown promise in the treatment of high blood
pressure, possibly by helping the kidney eliminate excess sodium
from the body.13 This same report also found that phyllanthus had a
blood-sugar-lowering eect. These many benecial properties of
phyllanthus may help explain its traditional reputation as a
therapeutic herb for kidney problems.
Finally, there have been several reports emphasizing the pain-
relieving properties of phyllanthus. Its chemical constituents reduce
both inammatory and pain responses in animals through
mechanisms that have not yet been determined.14, 15 These
properties, possibly reecting interactions with the prostaglandin
system, may ultimately account for the traditional role of
phyllanthus in the treatment of chronic fevers and inammatory
conditions.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF PHYLLANTHUS
According to the Ayurvedic framework, the bitter detoxifying
qualities of phyllanthus predict its therapeutic value in conditions
characterized by excessive heat and toxicity. Since the liver is the
primary organ of detoxication, liver ailments, including hepatitis,
have traditionally been treated with phyllanthus. Almost all of the
modern scientic studies on hepatitis have focused on hepatitis B.
We do not yet know if phyllanthus has any benecial role in the
treatment of hepatitis A or C. It does seem to be quite safe, without
reported side eects. If you are facing a liver problem for which you
are considering using phyllanthus, we strongly encourage you
discuss it with your health-care provider and establish objective
ways to measure the presence or absence of a therapeutic eect.
Most published studies have found that if phyllanthus is to show a
benet on blood markers of hepatitis, it will occur within the rst
two months of use. If no measurable eect is seen within this time
frame, there is little justication in continuing it.
HOW TO USE PHYLLANTHUS
Phyllanthus is not widely known in the West. It is a component of
several Ayurvedic liver formulas, where it is often combined with
kutki. Phyllanthus is now available from several herb companies as
a single herb, standardized to 10 milligrams of total sesquiterpenes.
The usual dose of the nonprocessed herb is 250 to 500 milligrams,
two to three times per day. The general recommendation is to use
phyllanthus for up to two months at a time.
AYURVEDA AND PHYLLANTHUS
Phyllanthus is composed of the bitter, astringent, and sweet tastes.
These are the three avors that pacify Pitta. Because the bitter taste
is predominant, phyllanthus also pacies Kapha. It can be mildly
aggravating to Vata. Its net eect is to have a cooling inuence on
the physiology.
PRECAUTIONS
No serious side eects have been reported with phyllanthus.
Because of its cooling, detoxifying inuence, it should be used
cautiously by people who are depleted. If you are using phyllanthus
with the specic intention of treating a viral illness, please work
closely with your health-care provider to monitor its safety and
ecacy.
A
PICRORHIZA KURROA
FAMILIAR: kutki, picroliv
LATIN: Picrorhiza kurroa
SANSKRIT: kutki, katuka
lthough not yet well known in the West, kutki has a long-
established reputation in Ayurveda as a detoxier and liver
tonic. This hardy, mountain-dwelling plant can be found
above ten thousand feet in the Himalayan Mountains. The kutki
plant produces pink owers during the months of summer when the
snow melts, but it is the underground roots and rhizomes that are
harvested for their medicinal eects. Although used for thousands of
years by Ayurvedic doctors, it has only recently received serious
scientic attention for its liver-protecting properties. As chronic
viral liver infections pose a growing public health threat in the
West, botanical allies such as kutki may play an increasingly
important role.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Kutki is a perennial shrub that has two- to four-inch leaves, small
owers, and a ve- to ten-inch-long main root, from which the
medicinal herb is obtained. It grows at high altitude in the
northwestern Himalayas in the region of Kashmir. Close botanical
relatives to kutki are found in Mongolia and Tibet.
Many dierent chemical constituents are found in the roots of
kutki, including glucosides, avonoids, and sterols. The component
that has received the most attention is kutkin, which is a
combination of two glucosides called glucoside-A and kutkoside.
The most commonly available form of kutki is standardized to
contain 10 milligrams of kutkin per tablet.
THE SCIENCE OF KUTKI
Exploring the traditional use of kutki in the treatment of bilious
fever, studies from the mid-1960s reported that patients with
infective hepatitis given kutki showed faster recoveries.1 Many
reports over the past ten years have conrmed the benets of kutki
in protecting the liver from a wide range of toxic and infectious
insults. Investigation in animals has shown that kutki can help
reverse the liver damage caused by poisonous mushrooms, noxious
chemicals, and toxic amino acids.2–4
Although liver cancer is relatively rare in the West, it is one of the
most common malignancies in developing countries. The major risk
factors for liver cancer are hepatitis B viral infection and exposure
to a food contaminant called aatoxin. This toxic chemical,
produced by a common mold, is a widespread problem throughout
Africa and Asia. Animal studies from India have demonstrated that
kutki protects the liver from most of the harmful eects of
aatoxin.5 Kutki has also been shown to protect the liver against
various tropical parasites and to strengthen the immune system’s
response to tuberculosis.6, 7
These infectious diseases and poisonings are fortunately
uncommon in the West, but kutki may also provide benet in two
common conditions that aect the liver: alcoholism and hepatitis B.
Animals exposed to enough alcohol to cause liver damage showed
much less toxicity when they were also given kutki.8 Another report
from India demonstrated that in the laboratory kutki has some
potential to neutralize components of the hepatitis B virus.9 It also
stimulates the ow of bile, which may be helpful in the prevention
of gallstones.10 The application of kutki’s liver-protecting qualities
to diseases in people still requires further research, but this herb
seems to have considerable therapeutic potential. In some studies
kutki is more potent than silybum, a popular herb that is commonly
recommended for liver ailments.11
In addition to its potential role in the therapy of liver disease,
kutki has been studied as a possible medicinal herb in the treatment
of asthma and allergies. Laboratory studies have suggested that
kutki dampens the release of allergy-causing chemicals and reduces
the severity of airway spasm in animals.12, 13 Chemical constituents
of kutki also have anti-inammatory activity and inhibit the action
of histamine.14, 15 Despite its suppression of an allergic response,
kutki has been found to have immune-enhancing properties.16 These
combined eects give credence to the traditional use of kutki in the
treatment of bronchial asthma and support the value of further
scientic research on this ancient healing herb.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF KUTKI
Kutki is one of Ayurveda’s powerful purifying herbs. Since the liver
is the body’s primary site of detoxication, kutki was classically
used when congestion in the liver was identied. Kutki is now
recommended when there is a challenge to the liver from toxins or
infection. If someone has been abusing alcohol or drugs, or eating
poorly, kutki can be a helpful component of a detoxication
program. Although its role in the treatment of chronic hepatitis is
receiving increasing attention, its clinical ecacy is yet to be
determined. If you are facing a diagnosed liver problem such as
chronic hepatitis, discuss the use of kutki with your health-care
provider before using it.
Kutki also has a traditional role in the treatment of bronchitis and
asthma. Its pungent bitterness is cleansing to the respiratory tract. It
also has a mildly cathartic eect on the digestive system when taken
in higher doses. Combined with amalaki and licorice, it can help
relieve indigestion.
HOW TO USE KUTKI
Kutki is now available through major American herbal suppliers,
where it goes by the name of picroliv. The usual dose is 300
milligrams two to three times daily. Take it for one month at a time,
and assess whether it is achieving the eects you are seeking. Do
not take it for longer than three months at a stretch.
Kutki is also a component of other herbal formulas for the liver,
combined with other Ayurvedic or Western herbs. It combines well
with turmeric, gotu kola, neem, and phyllanthus. A formulation
combining kutki with silybum is currently available in the United
States.
AYURVEDA AND KUTKI
The predominant taste of kutki is bitter, with a secondary pungent
component. It has a net cooling inuence on the mind-body
physiology. Kutki is most appropriate for Pitta and Kapha
conditions. Its sustained use may be mildly Vata-aggravating. As a
bitter detoxifying herb, it was traditionally recommended for toxic
conditions of the blood, characterized by low-grade fevers,
generalized pain, and fatigue.
PRECAUTIONS
There are no reported cases of toxicity due to kutki. Because it has a
strong detoxifying eect on the physiology, it should be used
cautiously in people who have illnesses that are depleting. It is to be
avoided during pregnancy. Although it has traditionally been used
for lactating mothers to purify their milk, there are no scientic
studies to verify its safety in young children; therefore,
breastfeeding mothers should avoid it. If you have a form of chronic
hepatitis and are considering using kutki, rst carefully discuss this
with your health-care provider and follow his or her
recommendations.
K
PIPER METHYSTICUM
FAMILIAR: kava kava, kava
LATIN: Piper methysticum
ava kava, an ancient medicinal plant indigenous to the South
Pacic, has gained recent popularity in the West. Sometimes
known as awa by native Hawaiians, extracts of the roots of
this tropical plant have been used for ceremonial, recreational, and
medicinal purposes by Polynesian natives for millennia. Kava
creates a mildly calming euphoric state and appears to avoid the
common side eects of many tranquilizing medications.
Kava was traditionally prepared by chewing the root and mixing
it with water or coconut milk as part of a ceremonial event. In
modern times it is occasionally ingested in ceremonies, but is more
commonly consumed as a relaxing beverage and tranquilizing
medicine. Modern scientic studies are conrming the benecial
eects of kava in the treatment of anxiety and insomnia, but it
should not be used indiscriminately, as rare side eects can occur.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Kava is a member of the pepper family. A nonclimbing shrub
reaching on average up to six feet in height, it has an anity for
warm, swampy areas. Cultivated kava plants no longer produce
viable seeds, so the herb is now propagated by way of cuttings
throughout the South Pacic and Hawaii. It produces characteristic
heart-shaped leaves arising from smooth stems. The underground
roots and rhizomes are the source of the medicinal components.
Chemical analyses have determined that both water- and fat-
soluble compounds can be extracted from the kava root. The water-
soluble components have not been well described, whereas the lipid
constituents have been characterized as belonging to a new class of
compounds called kava lactones or pyrones. Several of these
chemicals, including desmethoxyyan-gonin, methysticin, and
yangonin, have been shown to have pain-relieving and sedating
eects through complex actions on the nervous system.
THE SCIENCE OF KAVA
Studies have suggested that almost 50 million Americans struggle
with anxiety on a regular basis, and many of today’s most widely
prescribed drugs are directed toward the treatment of anxiety and
insomnia. Unfortunately, most medications for nervousness and
sleeping problems carry the side eects of daytime sedation and
possible drug dependency. Alternatives to the use of standard anti-
anxiety medication would be welcome if they provided relief with
fewer adverse eects. Kava may oer a useful natural option,
although it should not be seen as a magic elixir for dissolving the
stresses of life. From a holistic perspective, the need for kava should
trigger an honest search for the underlying cause of the anxiety or
insomnia.
For occasional short-term relief, kava has been shown to be
eective in reducing nervousness without the impairment of
thinking that usually accompanies tranquilizing drugs. In two
studies from Germany, kava was found useful in reducing anxiety
without negative reactions after just one week of treatment.1, 2 In a
report of fty-two outpatients with anxiety, more than 80 percent of
those taking kava rated their treatment as “very good” or “good.”3
Another study of forty women going through menopause showed
that those taking kava had measurable improvements in their mood
and sense of well-being, with signicant reductions in both anxiety
and depression, when compared with those on a placebo.4
Kava may be as eective as many of the standard medications
without as many side eects. In a study comparing kava to an anti-
anxiety benzodiazepine drug called oxazepam, physiological brain
reactions were altered with the medication, but were not aected by
kava.5 Another study looking at the ability of people to identify
novel visual stimuli found that subjects given oxazepam performed
more poorly than those in a control group, whereas those given
kava actually performed better.6
Concerns have been raised about kava’s potential compounding
eects if mixed with alcohol. A German study looking into this issue
reported that combining kava with alcohol did not additionally
impair performance on a number of neurophysiological tests, and in
procedures measuring concentration ability, those subjects taking
kava with alcohol actually performed better than those taking
alcohol alone.7 This should not be interpreted as suggesting that you
should take kava along with your glass of wine; rather, it highlights
the low risk of kava-induced side eects usually associated with
sedating substances.
There has been considerable scientic interest into how kava
inuences the mind and nervous system. Laboratory studies have
demonstrated that kava has complex eects on the physiology and
chemistry of the brain. Extracts of kava have been shown to dampen
the electrical uctuations of nerve cells.8 This modulation seems to
be through interaction with the receptor for an inhibitory
neurochemical known as GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid).9 This
mechanism is closely related to the way that the common anti-
anxiety medications act, but appears to be dierent enough to avoid
many of the common side eects of the standard drugs. Kava’s
potential therapeutic role in other neurological conditions, ranging
from epilepsy to chronic pain to stroke, is just beginning to be
explored.10–12
THE PRACTICAL USE OF KAVA
Despite its ready availability, kava should be used cautiously,
sparingly, and respectfully. For occasional insomnia or an acutely
stressful time of life, a short-term course of kava may provide
temporary relief. If you are currently taking a prescribed
tranquilizer or sleeping medication, discuss the use of kava with
your health-care provider before you start it or discontinue your
medication. Do not mix kava with any recreational or prescribed
drugs that may have sedating eects.
HOW TO USE KAVA
Studies using kava extract have found that doses of 70 to 100
milligrams of kavalactones three times per day are eective in the
treatment of mild anxiety. As a sleeping aid, a single dose of 150 to
200 milligrams an hour before bedtime is usually suggested.
One question that has not been fully answered is whether the
eectiveness of kava diminishes with repeated use. This issue,
known as tolerance, has been investigated in animals and found to
be of minor concern. Mice given kava extract daily for weeks
showed no tolerance at low dosages and only slight tolerance at
high dosages.13 Despite the minimal loss of ecacy over time, we
encourage you not to rely solely on an herbal approach to treat
anxiety or insomnia. Do not use kava as a substitute for daily
meditation, regular exercise, good nutrition, and healthy emotional
choices.
AYURVEDA AND KAVA
From an Ayurvedic perspective, kava can be classied as containing
the sweet, bitter, and astringent avors. It is pacifying to Vata and
Pitta, but can be aggravating to Kapha.
PRECAUTIONS
Rare but potentially serious side eects have been reported in
people taking kava. Despite its relative safety when taken on its
own, it can interact with sedating medications. A report from
Georgia described a patient who took kava along with his sedative
medication, alprazolam, and became confused and lethargic for
several hours.14 He recovered fully, but did require hospitalization.
A more serious complication of liver injury was reported in a
woman taking kava.15 Her liver tests recovered after the herb was
discontinued, and no other cause for her hepatitis could be
determined. Another complication, well described among native
drinkers of kava, is a skin condition that has been called kava-
induced dermopathy.16 Heavy chronic users of kava can develop
thickened, scaly skin. Although it has been suggested that this may
represent a niacin deciency, recent studies have contradicted this
explanation.17 Rare allergic skin reactions have been reported in
westerners taking kava extract.18, 19
Our bottom line regarding kava is that it is a valuable herbal
remedy that may provide an alternative to pharmaceutical anti-
anxiety and sleeping medications. However, it should be used
appropriately and as part of a holistic program that addresses the
underlying issues that contribute to the potential need for kava.
S
SERENOA REPENS
FAMILIAR: saw palmetto
LATIN: Serenoa repens, Sabal serrulata, Serenoa
serrulata
aw palmetto is a small palm tree native to the southeastern
United States. It is found throughout Florida and parts of
South Carolina and Mississippi. The berries of this plant were
prized by Native Americans as a general tonic, as a treatment for
impotence and painful urination in men, and as a natural remedy
for infertility and menstrual irregularities in women. Today saw
palmetto is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in the
treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This condition,
which aects over half of men in their sixties and as many as 90
percent of men in their eighties, accounts for over 350,000
operations each year in the United States. Although saw palmetto is
not a cure for this common condition that may cause diculties
with urination, it can improve the quality of life for many men.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Saw palmetto is a low-growing palm that has sharp, spinelike leaf
blades, which account for its common name. The mature plant may
reach fteen to twenty feet in height and may live as long as seven
hundred years. Each palm produces clusters of white owers in the
spring that give rise to fruits in the summer. Each plant produces up
to ve hundred berries that turn from green to orange to deep
bluish black over the course of several months.
For years, saw palmetto was viewed as an undesirable plant that
was dicult to remove when clearing grazing pastures and
farmland. With the growing interest in saw palmetto as a medicinal
substance, the economic value of this plant has been recognized. It
is now viewed as a cash crop by many of the same landowners that
previously saw it as an unwelcome weed.
Tablets and capsules of saw palmetto contain dried berries, often
standardized to specic concentrations of sterols or fatty acids.
Chemical analyses have identied a variety of free fatty acids in the
fruits, including capric, lauric, and oleic acids. Several dierent
medium- and long-chain alcohols and sterols have also been
characterized. Although the responsible substances have not yet
been identied, it is the fat-soluble components of saw palmetto
berries that appear to contain the chemicals that inuence the
prostate gland.
THE SCIENCE OF SAW PALMETTO
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition in which a man’s
prostate gland enlarges, at times resulting in the obstruction of the
outow tract from the bladder. The underlying cause of BPH is not
fully understood, but seems to be related to the concentration of sex
hormones that stimulate the prostate gland. The most important of
these hormones is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is derived from
testosterone. A popular medication for BPH, nasteride, blocks the
enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. Several studies have
suggested that one of saw palmetto’s actions is to inhibit this same
enzyme, possibly accounting in part for its ecacy in the treatment
of BPH.1–3
The nervous system plays an important role in coordinating
normal urinary function, and several drugs used to treat BPH act on
the neurological inputs to the lower urinary tact. In addition to its
role on hormonal levels, saw palmetto also inuences the
neurochemicals that coordinate urinary function.4, 5 The eect of
these actions is to reduce the spasm that can interfere with normal
urination.
Saw palmetto fruits have also demonstrated anti-inammatory
activity. Components of a saw palmetto extract inhibit the formation
of inammatory prostaglandins.6 This property may also contribute
to the value of saw palmetto in the treatment of BPH.
Regardless of how it works, there is convincing evidence that saw
palmetto does lead to improvements in urinary function in men with
BPH. Saw palmetto seems to help with several aspects of bladder
emptying. It can improve urinary ow, decrease discomfort, and
reduce the amount of residual urine that is left in the bladder after
voiding.7, 8 A report from Germany found that more than eighty
percent of men taking saw palmetto reported a good to excellent
response to the herbal extract.9 A study from Hungary reported that
nine out of ten patients on saw palmetto had marked improvements
in their ability to empty their bladders.10 Although not all reports
have shown denite objective improvements in urinary function,11 a
recent review of eighteen studies encompassing almost three
thousand men found that overall saw palmetto is eective in
improving both the symptoms and ow measures of men with
BPH.12 It seems to be as eective as the most popular medication,
nasteride, with fewer side eects.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF SAW PALMETTO
In the treatment of BPH, saw palmetto berry extract is usually taken
twice daily. Studies have reported an improvement in symptoms in
as little as one month after taking the herb, although benets accrue
over the course of three to six months.
In addition to its use in BPH, saw palmetto berries have a
traditional rejuvenating role for both men and women. It was used
by Native Americans to help people recover from debilitating
illnesses or injuries. Saw palmetto was recommended to increase
both male and female fertility, although there has not been any
scientic evidence to support this property. The berries have a
soothing, toning eect on mucous membranes and can be taken for
colds and coughs.
HOW TO USE SAW PALMETTO
Saw palmetto extract is now widely available. Most tablets and
capsules contain a standardized concentration of fatty acids from 80
to 95 percent. Individual capsules usually contain 80 or 160
milligrams with a daily recommended dose of 320 milligrams.
Crude berries are occasionally available, which can be taken at a
dose of 10 grams twice daily.
AYURVEDA AND SAW PALMETTO
The fresh berries, which carry the sweet, pungent, and astringent
tastes, have a mild warming eect on the physiology. They are
pacifying to Vata and Pitta, with the potential to increase Kapha in
high doses. The actions of saw palmetto on the urinary system are
similar to those of the Ayurvedic herb gokshura (Tribulis terrestris).
PRECAUTIONS
Rare digestive distress is associated with saw palmetto ingestion. In
contrast to its traditional use for fertility, saw palmetto has been
found in laboratory studies to inhibit sperm motility at high
concentrations.13 Although there have not been any reports of
clinical fertility problems with saw palmetto, it should probably be
avoided by a potential father if pregnancy is desired. Because BPH
rarely causes problems before the age of fty, this potential concern
about saw palmetto is usually not relevant.
M
SILYBUM MARIANUM
FAMILIAR: milk thistle
LATIN: Silybum marianum, Carduus marianus
ilk thistle is an ancient European medicinal herb that has
gained modern popularity as a liver protectant. Its name
derives from its characteristic white-veined leaves, which,
according to legend, contain the milk of the Madonna. Drawing
upon the ancient “doctrine of signatures,” which holds that nature
provides clues to the therapeutic value of a plant, milk thistle was
traditionally taken by nursing mothers seeking to improve the
quality of their breast milk.
Since the time of the ancient Greeks, milk thistle has been
prescribed as a remedy for liver ailments. Physicians throughout
medieval times and the Renaissance praised its ability to detoxify
the body of “bad bile.” As modern researchers began to look
seriously at milk thistle, they discovered that it oered genuine
value in the treatment of liver disease. It has subsequently become
one of the most popular herbs among patients with liver disease.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Milk thistle is native to the Mediterranean region and grows widely
throughout Europe. It was brought to America by early Western
European settlers and is now well established in the United States
and Latin America. Milk thistle is a member of the Compositae
family, which includes chicory, burdock, and artichoke.
The full-grown milk thistle plant can reach ve feet in height and
is easily recognized by its purple ower heads and spiny, white-
veined leaves. The medicinal herb is primarily derived from the
small, hard fruits that are often mistakenly referred to as seeds.
The chemical constituent in milk thistle that has been identied
as the biologically active substance is called silymarin. Silymarin is
composed of several unique avonoids, the most important of which
is silybin. Commercially available milk thistle extracts are usually
standardized to contain 70 percent silybin.
Silymarin is easily absorbed from the digestive tract and
processed by the liver, where it is concentrated in the bile.1 This
may explain why its potent antioxidant properties seem to have
their greatest impact in protecting the liver from toxic and
infectious insults.
THE SCIENCE OF MILK THISTLE
Milk thistle has shown promise in a number of medical conditions
including diseases of the liver, high cholesterol, and psoriasis.
Studies from over thirty years ago on patients with liver damage
resulting from a variety of causes found that those taking silymarin
were more likely to show both clinical and laboratory improvement
than were control subjects.2, 3 Subsequent investigations in people
with viral hepatitis have shown that those given milk thistle have
faster normalization of liver function tests and more-rapid clinical
recoveries.4 These ndings were true for patients with both hepatitis
A and hepatitis B infections.
Reports on patients with cirrhosis of the liver who were given
silymarin also had encouraging results. People with scarring of their
livers due to alcohol or infection who received milk thistle were
more likely to live longer than control patients, even though there
were not signicant changes in laboratory measurements of liver
function.5 Other studies have shown that silymarin also has a
benecial eect in a variety of liver ailments, including injuries
from poisonous mushrooms, chemicals, and pharmaceutical drugs.6,
7 Another potentially useful role for silymarin is in the treatment of
high cholesterol. Studies in both rats and rabbits have shown that
silymarin has a positive eect in normalizing lipid metabolism,
reducing serum cholesterol levels and slowing the development of
atherosclerosis.8–10 This eect has yet to be formally studied in
people.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF MILK THISTLE
Although milk thistle has many potential therapeutic uses, its
predominant modern role is in the treatment of liver disease. The
German Commission E has approved it for the treatment of
dyspepsia and in the supportive therapy of inammatory liver
conditions and cirrhosis. If you have active or chronic liver disease,
discuss the use of milk thistle with your health-care provider. In
cases of viral hepatitis, milk thistle may improve both how you feel
and the degree of liver function abnormalities as measured by blood
tests. If you are recovering from the excessive use of alcohol, a
month of silymarin may help your liver to recover more rapidly and
completely. If you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver
due to toxic or infectious damage, a trial of milk thistle may be
warranted. Although your liver blood tests may not show dramatic
improvement, you may feel better.
Theoretically, milk thistle could play a benecial role in reducing
the toxicity to the liver from pharmaceutical drugs, including cancer
chemotherapy medicines. Unfortunately, there has not been any
formal scientic investigation of milk thistle for this use. Because of
its concentration in the liver, you should use silymarin cautiously if
you are taking a prescribed medicine that is metabolized by the
liver, as it theoretically may alter the level of the drug in your
system.
HOW TO USE MILK THISTLE
Milk thistle is widely available in health-food stores, where it is
available as tablets and tinctures. Most tablets have between 100
and 300 milligrams of milk thistle standardized to contain 70
percent silymarin. The usual therapeutic dose is between 300 and
800 milligrams of silymarin per day in two or three divided doses.
Milk thistle has been used by patients in studies for up to two years
continuously without apparent side eects.
AYURVEDA AND MILK THISTLE
The original Ayurvedic sages did not know milk thistle. Although
not botanically related, milk thistle, kutki, and phyllanthus have
comparable medicinal proles and are applied in similar clinical
conditions. From an Ayurvedic perspective, milk thistle is bitter in
taste and carries a cooling potency. It is pacifying to Pitta and
Kapha, but can be mildly aggravating to Vata if used for a prolonged
time.
PRECAUTIONS
Milk thistle has a remarkable safety prole. Other than the
possibility of slightly loose stools, we have not come across any
reports of untoward side eects. If you are taking a pharmaceutical
agent, discuss the use of milk thistle with your health adviser to
monitor any inuence it may have on your medication levels.
W
TANACETUM PARTHENIUM
FAMILIAR: feverfew, bachelor’s buttons
LATIN: Tanacetum parthenium, Chrysanthemum
parthenium
ell known to ancient Egyptian and Greek physicians,
feverfew received its name for its ability to lower the
fever in people facing infections. Sometimes known as
“feather-few” in recognition of its feathery leaves, it has a long-
standing reputation in the world of natural medicine as an eective
pain reliever. Scientic studies over the past thirty years have
investigated the traditional claims surrounding feverfew, with most
supporting its value, particularly in the prevention of migraine
headaches. Other reports have lent credibility to the value of
feverfew in the treatment of arthritic conditions.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Feverfew is related to the chrysanthemum, producing daisylike
owers of white rays on a yellow center. The hardy, perennial
feverfew plant grows to about two and one-half feet in height and is
widely cultivated in gardens for its attractive leaves and owers.
Native to southern Europe and the Caucasus region between Europe
and Asia, it is now found throughout the world in temperate
climates. A component of its essential oil has a characteristic
pungent odor that repels bees.
The volatile oil of feverfew is chemically complex, containing a
variety of organic acids, ethers, and sesquiterpene lactones. The
most important constituent appears to be parthenolide, although
other natural chemical components play a role in feverfew’s
therapeutic properties. These chemicals appear to block the
production of inammatory prostaglandins, inuence the brain’s
production of neurochemicals involved in pain regulation, and
inhibit blood vessels from going into spasm.
THE SCIENCE OF FEVERFEW
Pharmacological studies since the 1980s have demonstrated that
feverfew has potent anti-inammatory activity, capable of inhibiting
the production of prostaglandins.1–3 Closely associated with its anti-
inammatory eects is feverfew’s ability to keep platelets from
sticking together and releasing serotonin.4 Since altered serotonin
metabolism has been associated with migraine headaches, this
property of feverfew may, in part, explain its ecacy in the
treatment of vascular headaches. Other chemicals contained in
feverfew, including melatonin, may also play a role.5
Regardless of what components may be pharmacologically active,
the real question concerns feverfew’s eectiveness in the treatment
of migraine headaches. A recent review of published studies found
that three of ve reports showed signicant benets of feverfew
over a placebo, with one of the two negative studies providing only
minimal data to substantiate its conclusion.6 In the majority of
reports, the frequency of migraines and the severity of headache
pain diminished in the patients taking feverfew.7–9 In addition to
reducing the headache, feverfew helped diminish the associated
symptoms of nausea and light and noise sensitivity. In one study
comparing people taking feverfew with those on a placebo, the
mean number of monthly headaches decreased from more than
seven to less than two.10 In another study of seventy-six patients,
there was, on average, about a 25-percent reduction in the number
of headache attacks in those taking the equivalent of two medium-
sized feverfew leaves per day.11 Side eects were generally mild,
consisting of mouth sores, mild digestive symptoms, and an
occasional rebound increase in headaches when feverfew was
discontinued.
Feverfew is considered useful as a pre-ventative migraine
medicine rather than as a treatment once the headache has
established itself. The benets of feverfew may be seen as early as
during the rst months of treatment. It is important to realize that
for most people feverfew does not completely eliminate migraines;
rather, it reduces their frequency and severity.
The role of feverfew in other health conditions has not been well
studied. One of its traditional uses has been in the treatment of
inammatory arthritic conditions, but the one modern study that
researched its role in rheumatoid arthritis failed to demonstrate any
denite value.12
One concern regarding studies on feverfew is the variable content
of active ingredients in dierent batches of the herb. Researchers
from England, looking at many dierent formulations of feverfew,
found levels of parthenolide ranging from none to almost 1 percent
of the herbal dose.13 Whether the lack of active constituent is due to
misidentication of the herb, deterioration over time, or intentional
substitution, these ndings emphasize the need for quality control
and standardization in the herbal industry. Most feverfew
formulations available in the United States are now standardized to
contain between .2 percent and .9 percent parthenolides.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF FEVERFEW
Migraines are characterized by throbbing pain, often associated with
nausea and sensitivity to loud sounds and bright lights. Anyone with
more than an occasional headache should have a thorough medical
evaluation to rule out other conditions that may cause headaches.
Although there are many eective medications available for the
prevention and symptomatic treatment of migraines, many people
prefer to take a holistic approach.
If you are susceptible to frequent migraine headaches, feverfew
may be worth a trial. You will likely need to take it daily for at least
a month before noticing a reduction in the frequency or intensity of
your headaches. It will not have much value if you take it during a
migraine attack. Before beginning any medicine or herbal remedy
for migraines, rst evaluate the basic aspects of your lifestyle. Be
sure you are getting enough rest, and that you are eating well and
have eliminated alcohol and caeine from your diet. Look at the
chronic and acute stresses in your life, and take steps to reduce
them. Although there are genetic components to migraine
susceptibility, lifestyle issues can have a major impact.
HOW TO USE FEVERFEW
Feverfew is easy to grow in your garden, and a few leaves can be
taken daily to prevent headaches. Tablets and capsules of the herb
are widely available, but make certain that you are obtaining
feverfew from a reputable source that oers a standardized
formulation. Clinical studies have used a daily dose of dried
feverfew leaves in the range of 50 to 100 milligrams. Depending
upon the concentration of the preparation, this is equivalent to
about 2 milligrams of parthenolide. Most commercially available
capsules contain between 80 and 250 milligrams of dried feverfew,
with a recommended dose of between two and four capsules per
day.
If you are growing your own, two to three fresh feverfew leaves
daily are usually sucient to produce a therapeutic benet. The
owering tops contain the highest concentration of parthenolide,
closely followed by the leaves. The stems and roots have only
minimal amounts of the presumed active constituent.
AYURVEDA AND FEVERFEW
Feverfew was not an original Ayurvedic herb, but can be understood
according to Ayurvedic principles. It has a predominantly bitter
taste and a cooling inuence on the system. It is helpful in reducing
Pitta and Kapha, but may be aggravating to Vata. According to
Ayurveda, migraine headaches are usually a Pitta aggravation, as
opposed to tension headaches, which are usually more Vata. In our
personal experience, we have seen both Pitta and Vata imbalances
respond to feverfew.
PRECAUTIONS
Some people are sensitive to chemical components of feverfew. A
small percentage of regular users who chew feverfew leaves will
develop mouth sores, although, in one study, people taking the
placebo actually reported this problem more often than those taking
feverfew. People tending gardens with feverfew occasionally
develop an allergic skin reaction.
Although we have not seen any modern reports, one of feverfew’s
traditional uses was to induce menstruation, so pregnant women
should avoid it. Because of its ability to inhibit platelet aggregation
in laboratory studies, people taking blood-thinning medications
should not take feverfew.
T
TERMINALIA ARJUNA
FAMILIAR: arjuna myrobalan
LATIN: Terminalia arjuna
SANSKRIT: arjuna
he arjuna tree, which grows throughout India, has been
valued for its therapeutic properties since the original
Ayurvedic writings thousands of years ago. It is revered both
for its wood and as a source of herbal medicine. The myth
surrounding arjuna relates that the two sons of the Tree Spirit King
insulted a wizard, who turned them both into arjuna trees. Even in
modern times, in recognition of their enchanted heritage,
lumbermen perform rituals of respect before cutting arjuna trees.1
Arjuna’s traditional use has been as a heart tonic, with modern
studies supporting its therapeutic role in cardiac conditions. It has
eects on the circulatory system ranging from the lowering of
cholesterol levels to improving the strength of heart contractions.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Arjuna is a beautiful deciduous tree that can reach heights of one
hundred feet. It grows throughout the sub-Himalayan region of
India and Sri Lanka, preferring wet, marshy regions. The arjuna tree
has ovoid leaves and produces clusters of small white owers. It is
the inner layers of its silver-white bark that are used for medicinal
purposes.
Arjuna’s bark contains amino acids, phenols, nitrates, and tannins.
Ellagic acid, a chemical constituent of arjuna, has been shown to
protect DNA strands from mutations. Arjunin, a unique tannin
isolated from arjuna, may also have potential anticancer properties.
The chemical components responsible for arjuna’s eects on the
circulatory system have not yet been identied.
THE SCIENCE OF ARJUNA
Arjuna is good example of an herb whose traditional use inspired
scientic research that conrmed its historical value. Studies around
the world have demonstrated benecial eects of arjuna on
important aspects of the cardiovascular system. Animal studies have
shown that arjuna can substantially lower serum cholesterol levels
and improve the HDL:cholesterol ratio without signicant side
eects.2, 3
People with known coronary artery disease who took arjuna
showed a signicant reduction in the number of anginal chest pain
episodes along with a reduction in their blood pressure.4 Arjuna was
not eective in heart patients with unstable angina pectoris, but was
able to reduce by half the anginal episodes in patients with stable
heart disease. In patients with a history of heart attacks and
impairment in heart muscle function, arjuna was associated with a
reduction in the frequency of chest pain attacks and improvement in
the ability of their heart muscles to contract.5 Another study of
people with congestive heart failure found that those taking arjuna
improved in several measures of cardiac function.6 They also
showed sustained enhancement in their overall functioning and
quality of life. When combined with guggulu, arjuna was shown to
protect the heart muscle in animals when subjected to cardiac-
damaging drugs.7
Although the benets of arjuna appear to be substantial, its
appropriate role in the modern treatment of heart disease remains to
be dened. Cardiovascular disease is a serious health concern,
representing the number-one cause of death in Western society. An
herbal approach that may improve the quality of life for people with
heart disease is worthy of serious consideration by the medical
community. On the other hand, if you have heart disease, it is not
the time to experiment on your own with an herbal medicine that
may interact with the pharmaceutical drugs you are taking. Our
recommendation, if you have coronary artery disease, is that you
use an herbal approach only under the close supervision of your
physician. You may wish to refer your doctor to the articles
referenced in this book for his or her consideration.
In addition to its role in heart disease, arjuna has shown other
potentially benecial eects. It can inhibit the growth of certain
cancer cell lines and has antibiotic activity against several disease-
causing germs, including the bacteria that cause gonorrhea.8, 9
Traditionally, arjuna has been used to regulate blood sugar, treat
skin sores, and help heal bone fractures. These properties have yet
to be scientically investigated.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ARJUNA
In Ayurvedic medicine, the astringent properties of arjuna are
applied to conditions that require the clearing of toxins and the
healing of wounds. In addition to its use in heart disease, arjuna is
often prescribed for disorders of the digestive tract, including acute
gallbladder and liver diseases, diarrhea, and dysentery. In such cases
a strong tea is given three times daily until the symptoms improve.
It is a useful topical herb for skin conditions including wounds
and ulcers. In the case of acne, a paste applied directly to a sore and
left to dry can help clear the infection and stimulate healing. Arjuna
is traditionally used to treat people who bruise easily, although
whether it works on blood vessels or the clotting system has not
been researched. Its cleansing and hemostatic properties are also
applied to people with bleeding gums, who are encouraged to gargle
with a suspension of powdered bark.
HOW TO USE ARJUNA
Arjuna is not yet readily available in the West, although an
increasing number of Ayurvedic heart tonics contain arjuna as their
rst ingredient. It is available in bulk powdered form from herbal
importers.
The standard dose for heart disease is 500 milligrams three times
daily. Traditionally it is mixed with warm milk and sugar. For
digestive disorders, arjuna is prepared as a tea with one teaspoon
per cup of hot water taken every six hours until the diarrhea or
cramping has passed.
As a topical wash for sores, a decoction can be prepared by
boiling one tablespoon of arjuna powdered bark in two cups of
water until the volume is reduced in half. Wash the wound with the
liquid several times a day. This same formula can be used as a
mouthwash or gargle. As a treatment for acne, arjuna powder is
mixed with water to make a paste that can be directly applied to the
skin lesion.
AYURVEDA AND ARJUNA
The predominant taste of arjuna is astringent, with a slightly
pungent secondary component. It has a cooling, anti-inammatory
inuence on the physiology. It is pacifying to both Pitta and Kapha,
but may increase Vata after prolonged usage.
PRECAUTIONS
Serious side eects have not been reported with arjuna. If you are
considering arjuna in the hope that it may help with your heart
disease, it is absolutely essential that you rst discuss it with your
heart doctor. You should not stop any heart medication before
starting arjuna, and you should be closely monitored by your health-
care provider.
A
TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA
FAMILIAR: amrit, heart-leaved moonseed
LATIN: Tinospora cordifolia
SANSKRIT: amrit, guduchi
classical Vedic myth relates that the ancient gods churned
the primordial ocean, producing an ambrosial nectar that
conferred immortality on any being that partook of it. This
nectar was called amrit, meaning “imperishable.” The application of
this powerful name to this native Indian plant reects its position in
the Ayurvedic pharmacy as a valued tonic herb, conferring vitality
and the energy of youth. Although modern studies cannot yet
conrm its immortalizing qualities, there is an expanding body of
research to suggest that amrit does oer broad health-promoting
properties.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Tinospora cordifolia is an attractive perennial creeping plant with
heart-shaped leaves. It favors shady, damp environments and tends
to grow among hedge bushes. Amrit has a papery, light gray bark
and small yellow owers. The leaves, stems, and roots are all used
medicinally.
Several characteristic bitter principles have been identied in
amrit. Various glycosides and terpenes, including unique compounds
called tinosporine and cordifolisides A, B, and C, have been isolated
from alcohol and water extracts of its stems and leaves.
THE SCIENCE OF AMRIT
Many studies have evaluated the eects of amrit on the immune
system. Laboratory studies have shown that amrit can enhance the
production of antibodies and improve the function of macrophages,
the cells responsible for gobbling up foreign proteins.1 In animals
that receive immune-toxic drugs, amrit helps restore the production
of natural immune-enhancing chemicals such as interferon and
tumor necrosis factor (TNF).2 Animals with serious infections given
amrit are able to more eectively clear the bacteria, resulting in
more rapid and complete recovery. Tinospora cordifolia does not
appear to have direct antibiotic activity; rather, it seems to
stimulate the host’s immune defense system to function more
eectively.3 This has been shown to be true against fungal and
parasitic as well as bacterial infections.4, 5
The immune-potentiating properties of amrit have been applied to
people undergoing surgery. A series of reports from Bombay, India,
have shown that patients receiving an amrit extract prior to major
abdominal surgery had fewer postoperative infections and
signicantly improved outcomes, compared against those receiving
standard surgical care.6, 7 Studies to determine why those patients
did so much better found that the white blood cells of those who
received amrit were better able to engulf and eliminate disease-
causing bacteria.8
Amrit has also demonstrated potentially useful properties in
cancer. A recent study reported that amrit killed tumor cells very
eectively when added to a culture of cancer cells.9 In another
animal study, amrit was shown to have potent antioxidant
properties that substantially reduced the side eects of a cancer
chemotherapy drug on the blood-producing cells in bone marrow.10
These dierent properties paint an interesting picture of amrit’s
potential therapeutic eects. It strengthens natural immunity, may
have anticancer activity, and is capable of protecting healthy cells
from toxic inuences. Reports have also suggested that amrit helps
to stabilize blood sugar and lower cholesterol levels.11, 12
Amrit can be classied as an adaptogen, a substance that helps
the individual adapt more readily to life challenges. This class of
herbs, which includes ginseng and ashwagandha, oers protection
against the deleterious health eects from a wide range of stresses.
An example of its protective properties is a recent study that showed
amrit was able to reduce the harmful action of the chemotherapy
drug cisplatin on the digestive tract.13 It limited the extent of
damage to the stomach lining, normalized gastric emptying, and
stabilized intestinal function. With no reported serious side eects,
amrit is a prime candidate for further scientic research as an agent
that can enhance the body’s recuperative powers.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF AMRIT
Amrit is just beginning to become available in the West. It is usually
a component of Ayurvedic formulas designed to enhance immunity
and modify a person’s response to stress. Its traditional role has
been in the treatment of infectious illnesses, ranging from colds to
syphilis. It is rejuvenative as well as detoxifying. Amrit is often a
component of formulas used in the treatment of chronic skin
disorders such as psoriasis or eczema, although we have not seen
any scientic studies that have quantied its role in dermatological
conditions. It is also reported to be one of the best herbal medicines
for gout.
HOW TO USE AMRIT
Tinospora cordifolia is available in powdered form from herbal
importers. The usual dosage for immune enhancement is one
teaspoon twice daily. This can be taken on a maintenance basis if
you are facing a persistent challenge such as cancer, or can be used
at the onset of a cold or u to be taken for a week. It can be
combined with shatavari or ashwagandha as a general tonic, or with
aloe vera juice as part of a detoxifying formula. It can also be made
into a paste and applied directly to chronic skin irritations.
AYURVEDA AND AMRIT
Amrit contains the bitter, pungent, and astringent tastes. It has a
heating potency with a sweet post-digestive eect. It is classically
used to clear the system of excessive Pitta accumulation, but is
balancing to all three doshas.
PRECAUTIONS
No signicant adverse eects have been reported with amrit. It can
be slightly constipating if used for a prolonged time by people who
are prone to sluggish bowels.
F
TRIGONEHA FOENUM-GRAECUM
FAMILIAR: fenugreek
LATIN: Trigonella foenum-graecum
SANSKRIT/HINDI: methi
enugreek is one of the earliest spices used by human beings
for culinary and medicinal purposes. Native to the lands that
surround the Arabian Sea, fenugreek was known to the
ancient Egyptian and Greek physicians, and was valued by
Hippocrates in the fth century B.C. A member of the legume family,
fenugreek is now cultivated in the Middle East, India, China, and
Greece. With its distinctive aroma, fenugreek is commonly added to
perfumes, candies, and curried spice blends. It has traditional
therapeutic value as a nutritive tonic and in the treatment of
digestive disorders and respiratory complaints. Scientic studies
have shown fenugreek to be benecial in lowering elevated blood
sugar and cholesterol levels.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Fenugreek is an annual herb that grows to about two feet in height.
The Latin name Trigonella, meaning “three-angled,” refers to the
oval-shaped leaves that grow in triad clusters. The plant produces
white owers in the early summer that give rise to sickle-shaped
pods, containing ten to twenty yellow seeds. The leaves and pods
are used medicinally.
Chemical analysis of the seeds reveals a strong-smelling volatile
oil, a mucilaginous polysaccharide, and a variety of alkaloids and
avonoids. Several unique saponins called trigoneosides have been
identied. Diosgenin, a saponin also present in wild yams, is
synthesized into female hormones used in birth-control pills and
hormone-replacement therapy. Over 25 percent of the seed is
composed of ber. It has been suggested that the ber and saponins
are responsible for fenugreek’s cholesterol-lowering action, by
binding cholesterol in the digestive tract so it cannot be fully
absorbed into the bloodstream.1
THE SCIENCE OF FENUGREEK
Fenugreek has been most researched for its eect on blood glucose
levels. Many studies in diabetic animals have shown that the leaves
and ground seeds of fenugreek lower blood sugar levels.2–4 The
ability of fenugreek to lower glucose levels may be due to its
content of an amino acid (4-hydroxyisoleucine) that stimulates the
release of insulin.5
The eects of fenugreek on blood sugar levels have been shown to
be relevant to human beings. Insulin-dependent diabetics given
fenugreek seed powder with breakfast and dinner showed reduced
fasting blood sugar levels and improved glucose tolerance tests.6
They also had a lowering of their cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
In another study, patients with mild noninsulin-dependent diabetes
given fenugreek at a dose of 2.5 grams twice daily showed a
signicant reduction in their blood sugar levels.7 Other patients
with coronary artery disease given fenugreek for three months
showed lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In this report from
India, healthy people without diabetes or heart disease given
fenugreek did not demonstrate any change in their sugar or
cholesterol values.
Fenugreek’s eect on cholesterol was predicted by an earlier
animal study that found an extract able to reduce blood cholesterol
levels by about 25 percent in rats over a one-month period.8 This
cholesterol-lowering eect is in part due to the binding of
cholesterol by the ber component of the seeds. The saponins
present in fenugreek may also play a role by blocking the absorption
of bile acids that carry cholesterol into the bloodstream.
An interesting feature of fenugreek is its ability to increase
appetite, resulting in greater food conusmption.9 Although this may
not sound appealing for people trying to lose weight, it can be a
valuable aid for people with chronic illness or depression who have
trouble consuming enough daily calories to support their recovery.
It is interesting that despite its appetite-enhancing eects, fenugreek
is able to lower serum cholesterol levels.
In addition to its glucose- and cholesterol-lowering eects,
fenugreek leaves have demonstrated antioxidant and pain-relieving
eects.10, 11 Although the leaves are not well known in the West,
they are used in a manner similar to spinach in the Middle East and
India. The antioxidant properties may be due to their rich content of
vitamin C and beta-carotene.12 Another traditional use for fenugreek
leaves and seeds in Saudi Arabia is in the treatment of kidney
stones. A study in animals found that rats receiving fenugreek daily
for a month had a signicant reduction in the quantity of calcium
oxalate deposited in their kidneys, supporting its folk medicine
use.13 It’s obvious that this pungent spice has many potential health-
promoting benets, worthy of further scientic investigation.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF FENUGREEK
Fenugreek is best consumed as part of a balanced diet. If you have
elevated cholesterol levels or suer with diabetes, try to get a
couple of teaspoons of fenugreek into your diet on a daily basis. A
teaspoonful in a cup of hot milk, sweetened with honey, before
bedtime can help induce sound sleep. Fenugreek tea taken after a
meal can be soothing to an upset stomach. One of the herb’s
traditional uses has been to increase the quantity of breast milk in
nursing mothers. Other than making mom smell a little like maple
syrup, it seems to be well tolerated and moderately eective.
HOW TO USE FENUGREEK
Fenugreek seeds are usually available at grocery stores, although
you may need to go to a Middle Eastern or Indian spice shop to nd
it as an individual spice, rather than as part of a curry blend.
Health-food stores usually carry ground seeds in capsule form
with about 500 milligrams per dose. To make a digestionsettling tea,
simmer two teaspoons of crushed or ground seeds in a cup of hot
water. As a gargle for sore throats and colds, boil two teaspoons in a
cup of water down to one-half cup and use while still warm.
As an aid to lowering cholesterol, take one gram twice daily,
either as a powder mixed in food or liquid, or in the form of tablets.
Anecdotal reports of fenugreek to increase breast milk suggest that 2
to 8 grams in divided doses can enhance lactation. Be sure to drink
plenty of water if you are using fenugreek for this purpose.
The ground seeds can be made into a paste with water and used
as a poultice in the treatment of skin eruptions. A fenugreek paste is
used to draw out infection from boils and can be applied directly to
acne lesions, left until dry, and then washed o.
AYURVEDA AND FENUGREEK
The bitter taste predominates in fenugreek, followed by pungent and
sweet. The net eect of fenugreek on the physiology is heating. It is
pacifying to Vata and Kapha, but has the potential of aggravating
Pitta if taken in excess.
PRECAUTIONS
Fenugreek should generally be avoided during pregnancy, as it may
have a stimulating eect on the uterus. Rare allergic reactions have
been described, but considering its long-standing worldwide use, it
is a very safe culinary and medicinal spice.14
S
ULMUS
RUBRA
FAMILIAR: slippery elm
LATIN: Ulmus rubra
lippery elm is a wonderful medicinal herb that is an American
original. Prized by Native Americans, it was embraced by
early settlers for its value as both a food source and medicine.
Although introduced to Europe in the seventeenth century, it never
received wide acceptance. In America, however, slippery elm was
included for over a century in our ocial pharmacopoeia, and
remains on the FDA’s “safe and eective” list. Nevertheless, there
are no formal scientic studies published on it.
Traditionally, slippery elm has been used for a wide range of
health concerns, whenever there is evidence of inammation. Its
soothing mucilaginous qualities have been applied to conditions
ranging from sore throat to inamed hemorrhoids. A popular
ingredient in modern herbal teas and throat lozenges, slippery elm
is one of nature’s gentlest healing allies.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The slippery elm tree is native to North America, where both the
outer and inner bark are harvested. Its Latin name Ulmus rubra,
meaning “red elm,” refers to the reddish color of its inner bark. It
grows best in soil that has been disturbed, such as abandoned
farmland. Slippery elm is susceptible to Dutch elm disease, a fungal
infection spread by bark beetles, but less so than other species of
elm.
It is primarily the inner bark that is used medicinally. It contains
many dierent sugars, terpenes, and sterols that result in its
mucilaginous properties. A ne powder of the bark can be taken
internally as a nutritious gruel, made into throat lozenges, or
applied as a poultice to irritated skin. Slippery elm’s natural
mucilage binds to and protects internally and externally inamed
membranes.
THE SCIENCE OF SLIPPERY ELM
Slippery elm is used industrially in many food and medicinal
products. It serves as binder material in suppositories, as a
demulcent in throat lozenges, and as a thickener in creams and
ointments. Slippery elm also serves as an antioxidant preservative in
cooking oils. With the many benets attributed to this herb, it is
surprising that it has been ignored by modern medical science.
Perhaps it has been overlooked because it is on the boundary
between food and natural medicine.
PRACTICAL USES FOR SLIPPERY ELM
Slippery elm has many diverse uses. Native Americans found it
benecial in the treatment of cough and sore throat. Its lubricating
qualities loosen and mobilize secretions throughout the respiratory
tract. It also has therapeutic eects on the digestive system, where it
acts as a gentle bowel tonic, useful in the treatment of both diarrhea
and constipation. Heartburn and peptic ulcers respond to the
soothing inuence of slippery elm, which can cool inamed mucous
membranes. It has properties very similar to marshmallow, which is
widely used in Europe for inammatory problems.
Native American women taught early European settlers the value
of slippery elm in easing the pain of childbirth. In addition to its
internal use, slippery elm was externally applied to lubricate the
birth passage. It was also used after delivery to soothe swollen and
irritated vaginal tissues.
Mixed with brown sugar or maple syrup, slippery elm makes a
gruel of the kind that sustained early American explorers. George
Washington and his armies used it as a source of nutrition during
the revolutionary war. It can be helpful in people who are
convalescing from an illness and is even digestible by babies.
Slippery elm’s benets extend beyond the digestive system. It is
useful in cooling inamed membranes of the urinary tract. Chronic
bladder inammation, prostatitis, and urethritis have traditionally
responded to slippery elm. Its anti-inammatory qualities can also
be recommended for rheumatic conditions, including degenerative
arthritis and gout.
Externally, slippery elm can be applied to sores, wounds, and
burns. It can be used to treat cold sores, eczema, and festering insect
bites. A dilute solution of a slippery elm infusion may help soothe
inamed eyes. A poultice made with powdered slippery elm bark
can be applied directly to painful, swollen hemorrhoids, which may
also benet from the internal use of this lubricating substance.
In patients receiving treatment for cancer, we recommend
slippery elm to reduce the discomfort of inamed mucous
membranes, a common side eect of chemotherapy or radiation.
Made into a porridge with milk, cinnamon, and honey, slippery elm
can also provide a nourishing nutritional supplement.
Externally, slippery elm can be combined with comfrey and
applied directly to slow-healing skin ulcers. Mixed with cocoa butter
or olive oil, it is a soothing sunburn remedy.
HOW TO USE SLIPPERY ELM
As a tea, one ounce of slippery elm bark is added to one pint of hot
water and steeped for ve minutes. To use the powdered inner bark
as a nutritive gruel, boil one tablespoon in a cup of milk and season
with brown sugar and cinnamon. As an external poultice, soak the
shredded bark in equal parts of hot water and apply directly to the
site of irritation. Slippery elm throat lozenges are widely available
at most health-food stores; these can be used for relief of a sore
throat or prior to a public speaking or singing event.
An ointment can be made by combining one ounce of slippery elm
bark powder with three ounces of cocoa or jojoba butter and
massaging into the inamed area. To make a paste, mix powdered
bark with puried water until it is the consistency of thick oatmeal,
and apply to the irritated skin. Leave it on until it has fully dried,
then rinse it o with room-temperature water. This can be repeated
three to four times per day until the burn or sore has healed.
AYURVEDA AND SLIPPERY ELM
Although not described in the classic Ayurvedic texts, slippery elm
can be classied as possessing sweet and cooling properties,
eective in the treatment of excessive Pitta and Vata. Although it
can increase Kapha in high doses, it has a mucus-mobilizing eect
that can benet people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, and upper
respiratory infections. Highly nutritive, it is used in states of tissue
depletion. Slippery elm can restore balance to the blood and heal
the mucous membranes of the lungs and stomach.
PRECAUTIONS
The gruel can be slightly dicult to digest in large amounts. At
usual doses, slippery elm is a safe, gentle herbal aid.
VALERIANA OFFICINALIS
FAMILIAR: valerian
LATIN: Valeriana ocinalis, Valeriana jatamansi,
Nardostachys jatamansi
SANSKRIT: tagara, jatamansi
ective for quieting an overactive mind, valerian has played the role
of a natural sedative for millennia. Valerian species have been
Evalued for their calming inuence by healers in Asia, Europe,
and North America. Dozens of modern studies have conrmed
that this strong-smelling herb has measurable tranquilizing
properties with minimal side eects.
Widely available in tablets, teas, and tinctures, valerian is
approved by the German Commission E as a safe sleep-inducing
substance and by the United States Food and Drug Administration as
a food and beverage avoring. Although modern studies have
focused primarily on its sleep-inducing eects, valerian also has
potential value in the treatment of muscle spasms and hypertension.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Valerian is a perennial shrub that grows to a height of about four
feet. It has clusters of small pink owers that blossom on long stems.
The roots and rhizome are the primary source for the herbal
medicine. They contain the unique chemicals known as
valeprotriates and valeric acid that appear to be responsible for
valerian’s calming properties.
Both water- and alcohol-extracted components of valerian root
have sedative activity. Even aromatherapy with valerian essential
oil can have a calming eect. One of the possible mechanisms for
valerian’s tranquilizing eect is its ability to increase levels of an
inhibitory brain chemical called gamma amino-butyric acid or
GABA. Benzodiazepine drugs, such as Valium and Ativan, act on
receptors for GABA in the brain, suggesting that the action of
valerian may be similar.1 Other important neurochemicals,
including dopamine and serotonin, are also inuenced by valerian,
so its eects on the brain may be more complex than was initially
believed.
THE SCIENCE OF VALERIAN
Valerian has an established history of safety and ecacy. It is one of
the most popular herbs in Europe, with over 100 million units
prescribed in Germany between 1974 and 1993.2 Studies from
around the world have demonstrated that valerian taken before
bedtime can improve the quality of rest a person receives. A report
from Sweden demonstrated that valerian was substantially more
eective than a placebo in enhancing sleep without side eects.3
Brain-wave studies of people receiving valerian have shown that it
increases the amount of time people spend in the deeper stages of
sleep.4 Other studies have shown that valerian reduces the time it
takes to fall asleep, reduces the number of times a person awakens
during the night, improves the quality of rest gained during the
night, and produces minimal or no drowsiness in the morning.5, 6
Animal studies have conrmed that valerian has measurable
calming eects. Valerian can prolong the eects of sedative
medication and reduce the withdrawal symptoms of animals given
tranquilizers for one month.7, 8 Supporting the relevance of these
ndings to people, a pharmacist from New Zealand recently
reported success in using herbal medicines, including valerian, in a
drug detoxication unit.9
Studies have suggested that valerian may have stress-neutralizing
eects that extend beyond its capacity to promote sound sleep.
There are reports that it may diminish the risk of stress ulcers and
reduce spasms in the digestive tract.10, 11 Valerian may also have
lipid-lowering eects, with one study demonstrating that extracts of
Indian valerian lower total cholesterol levels and raise the HDL
(good) component.12 Finally, extracts of valerian have also been
shown to have antibiotic activity against a variety of molds.13
PRACTICAL USES FOR VALERIAN
Valerian is useful as a natural relaxant. Although it has not been
shown to have any serious long-term side eects, we do not
encourage the chronic use of valerian for the treatment of insomnia
or anxiety. If you are consistently having trouble sleeping, look to
the underlying cause. Are you stressed at work? Are there
relationship issues that need to be addressed? Valerian is a valuable
botanical gift, but should not be thought of as a substitute for
tranquilizing drugs, taken chronically to cope with unresolved
emotional imbalances in your life.
Valerian can be helpful in the occasional treatment of sleep
diculties, muscle tension, and mild functional digestive
imbalances. As a natural bridge across stressful life challenges, it is a
gentle stress-relieving ally.
Valerian has traditionally been used in the treatment of health
conditions related to stress, such as heart palpitations, mildly
elevated blood pressure, and tension headaches. Although there
have not been scientic studies to conrm these benets of valerian,
it is worth a short trial of the herb if you are experiencing
intermittent stress-related symptoms. Be certain to discuss your use
of valerian with your health-care provider. If valerian is eective in
reducing your physical symptoms, it is a good sign that taking other
stress-reducing measures, such as meditation, regular exercise, or
massage, may be more eective in the long run.
HOW TO USE VALERIAN
Valerian is widely available in tablets and capsules at health-food
stores. Studies have suggested that a 450-milligram dose is as
eective as 900 milligrams in people taking valerian to help induce
sleep.14 A cup of valerian tea at bedtime, sweetened with honey, can
also be helpful. In India, valerian root is used as a potpourri pillow.
Children or adults inhale the distinctive fragrance of valerian at
bedtime to induce sound sleep.
For anxiety or other stress-related conditions, valerian can be
taken three times a day, not to exceed a daily dose of two grams. If
you are using valerian more than a few days in a row, ask what
more you can do to address the underlying tension in your life.
AYURVEDA AND VALERIAN
Ayurveda recognizes two dierent medicinal plants in the valerian
family: tagara and jatamansi. Tagara is closest to Valeriana
ocinalis, which is the plant most widely used in Western herbal
formulas. Jatamansi sometimes goes by the Latin name Valeriana
jatamansi and is also called Nardostachys jatamansi. It is said to be
slightly less sedating than tagara, but this has not been conrmed
scientically.
Both are bitter, sweet, pungent, and astringent, although tagara is
warming in potency whereas jatamansi is somewhat cooling. Tagara
is better for Vata and Kapha, while jatamansi has particular value in
pacifying the overheated ruminating mind that excessive Pitta can
generate.
PRECAUTIONS
There has been one reported case of a person taking twenty times
the recommended dose of valerian and showing mild symptoms of
oversedation that fully resolved within a day.15 Although there have
been concerns about morning drowsiness after taking valerian, a
recent study comparing valerian with a standard sleeping medicine,
unitrazepam, found a hangover eect from the drug, but not from
valerian.16 There was a very mild decrease in alertness within a
couple hours after taking valerian.
Although these eects are subtle, we do not recommend driving a
car or operating machinery if you are taking valerian during the
day. Also, do not use valerian without the approval of your health-
care provider if you are taking any prescribed sedative or
tranquilizing medication.
A
WITHANIA SOMNIFERA
FAMILIAR: winter cherry
LATIN: Withania somnifera
SANSKRIT: ashwagandha
shwagandha is among the most important herbs in the
Ayurvedic pharmacy. Classically known for its rejuvenative
benets, it is the subject of considerable modern scientic
attention. It has recently been referred to as “Indian ginseng” for its
reputed restorative benets, although these two timeless tonics,
ginseng and ashwagandha, are botanically unrelated.
In Sanskrit, the name ashwagandha means “the smell of a horse,”
implying that this aromatic herb provides the strength of a stallion.
It has a traditional use in supporting rejuvenation after illness and
as a sexual enhancer for both men and women. Ashwagandha is
sometimes referred to as an aphrodisiac, which in Ayurveda is a
term applied to substances that enhance the quality of reproductive
tissues as well as enlivening sexual potency. Ashwagandha is the
primary rasayana, or rejuvenative, for masculine energy.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
Although the leaves and fruit of ashwagandha have therapeutic
value, most of the herbal medicine available in the West is derived
from the roots of the shrub. The plant, native to India, northern
Africa, and the Middle East, is now cultivated in temperate climates
around the world, including the United States.
Ashwagandha contains many chemical constituents, including
unique compounds called withanolides. The medicinal components
have been characterized as steroidal alkaloids and steroidal
lactones. Choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars
are also found in the roots of ashwagandha. The essential oil
responsible for its strong aroma has not been denitively
characterized.
THE SCIENCE OF ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha is often classied as an adaptogen, which means it
helps to modify the harmful eects of stress on the body. Studies in
animals have suggested that ashwagandha can limit the damage of
free radicals through its antioxidant activity.1, 2
Ashwagandha has been shown to have a measurable eect on the
immune system. It is capable of protecting the activity of immune
cells that are subjected to chemicals that usually inhibit their
function.3, 4 This immune-protecting property of ashwagandha has
been studied for the possible benet of reducing the side eects of
radiation and cancer chemotherapy treatments. The bone marrow of
animals pretreated with ashwagandha that then receive radiation
shows less suppression of production of infection-ghting white
blood cells.5 A similar protective eect was reported in animals
taking ashwagandha prior to receiving a dose of the potent cancer-
ghting drug cyclophosphamide.6
Ashwagandha may have a direct eect on limiting the growth of
cancer cells. Extracts of ashwagandha may also increase the
sensitivity of cancer cells to the eects of radiation therapy.7 The
combination of its ability to protect healthy cells while making
cancerous ones more susceptible to treatment suggests that
ashwagandha may play an important role in modern cancer therapy.
Further studies are needed to determine if this potential benet can
be realized in people.
One of the classic uses of ashwagandha is to calm mental
turbulence. Some studies looking into the inuence of ashwagandha
on the brain have reported eects on GABA receptors, the site of
action of tranquilizing drugs such as Valium and Ativan.8 Other
investigators have shown that the herb acts on acetylcholine
receptors, known to be important in the processing of memory.9
Studies on the relevancy of these laboratory ndings to humans are
limited. One report of men and women given daily doses of
ashwagandha for forty days showed that those receiving the herb
performed better on tests of logical thinking, problem solving, and
reaction time than did a control group taking ginseng.10 These
reports suggest that the mind-tonic reputation of ashwagandha may
be understood in scientic terms. More research is clearly
warranted.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF ASHWAGANDHA
We use ashwagandha at the Chopra Center for its tonic and
rejuvenative eects. With its benecial inuence on the nervous
system, we commonly prescribe it for people who complain of
fatigue, diculty in concentrating, and a general sense of
ungroundedness. Mixed with warm milk and taken before bed,
ashwagandha is useful for people with insomnia and anxiety. It has
a reputation in Ayurveda as a rejuvenative in conditions of nerve
and muscle weakness. It is also used for men and women who are
having trouble with fertility. Although it is sometimes recommended
in India to strengthen pregnant women, we do not recommend
nonculinary herbs or spices in pregnancy until safety and ecacy
studies are performed.
In patients facing cancer, ashwagandha can be a valuable ally. As
discussed above, it may have value during treatments but we more
commonly recommend it in the recuperative phase as people are
attempting to regain their energy and strength.
HOW TO USE ASHWAGANDHA
Several American herbal companies are now oering ashwagandha
in doses of 300 to 500 milligrams. In some formulations the tablets
are standardized to a specic dose of withanolides. The usual dose is
600 to 1000 milligrams twice daily. A tablet or teaspoon of
powdered ashwagandha crushed in hot milk and sweetened with
honey or sugar enhances its sedating qualities.
AYURVEDA AND ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha is a benecial rejuvenating herb for both Vata and
Kapha imbalances. Carrying the three tastes of bitter, astringent,
and sweet, it can be a tonic for all three doshas, although because it
is mildly heating it can slightly aggravate Pitta when taken in
excess.
PRECAUTIONS
Very large doses of ashwagandha have been reported to induce
abortions in animals. Despite the lack of similar reports in human,
ashwagandha should be avoided in pregnancy. Large doses may also
cause mild digestive upset so it should be used cautiously in people
with known peptic ulcer disease.
K
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE
FAMILIAR: ginger
LATIN: Zingiber ocinale
SANSKRIT: andraka (fresh); sunthi (dry)
nown in Ayurveda as the universal remedy, ginger has been
honored around the world and across time for its unique
culinary and medicinal properties. From Confucius to Marco
Polo to the Indian King Akbar, those who experienced the unique
pungent avor of ginger praised this powerful natural agent. Healers
of medieval times traced the origins of ginger to the Garden of Eden,
while, on the Indian subcontinent, references to this “king of spices”
are found in the earliest myths. Known for its concentrated heating
potency, ginger has been used across Asia and Africa to kindle the
body’s internal re.
BOTANICAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL INFORMATION
The ginger plant grows to about one meter high, but it is the
underground rhizome that is prized for its spicy aromatic avor and
aroma. About 2 percent of the rootstock consists of a yellow volatile
oil that contains a number of chemicals including camphene,
zingiberine, and gingerol. The last of these, gingerol, appears to be
responsible for ginger’s pungent taste.
Originally from Asia, ginger is now widely cultivated throughout
warm climatic regions, where its rhizomes are harvested before
their rst birthday. Ginger is used fresh, dried, and as a frequent
ingredient in candies, chutneys, and preserves. Drying the root
increases its irritant properties, but serious side eects have not
been described.
THE SCIENCE OF GINGER
Ginger is best known for its eects on the digestive system. When
taken internally, it stimulates the release of salivary enzymes and
enhances stomach emptying. As a result, ginger has been used
successfully to treat nausea and vomiting in a number of conditions.
A study from England showed that ginger can prevent nausea after
gynecological surgical procedures, although a more recent report
from South Africa could not conrm this benet.1, 2 A Swiss study
looked at ginger’s ecacy in the treatment of seasickness and found
it to be as useful as most medications commonly used, conrming
an earlier report that showed ginger to be eective in motion
sickness.3, 4
One of the most promising uses of ginger is in the treatment of
morning sickness associated with pregnancy. Because of risks to the
fetus, most drugs are diligently avoided during pregnancy. Ginger-
root seems to oer a safe and eective option. Studies from
Denmark found that almost three out of four pregnant women
experienced some relief from their nausea without any limiting side
eects.5 The German Commission E has suggested that ginger be
avoided in pregnancy owing to theoretical concerns, although no
cases of ginger toxicity have yet been reported.
Considering its widespread usage without documented problems,
ginger seems to be an acceptable antinausea substance when taken
in normal doses.6 Use only natural fresh gingerroot to gain maximal
benet with minimal risk.
Another potential use for ginger is in the treatment of nausea
associated with cancer chemotherapy. In a recent animal study from
India, ginger helped to stimulate the stomach to empty after a
potent chemotherapy drug, cisplatin, was given.7 Although there are
many new eective antinausea drugs available to treat the side
eects of cancer therapies, they are generally very expensive and
carry side eects. In this study, ginger was found to be as eective
as the most commonly used drug.
Ginger also has potentially benecial eects on circulation.
Animal studies suggest that ginger may help lower cholesterol levels
and reduce the stickiness of platelets.8, 9 A benet that has been
noted for thousands of years is ginger’s ability to improve
circulation. Both Chinese and Indian physicians prescribed ginger
for people troubled by cold hands and feet, a remedy we have found
consistently helpful at the Chopra Center.
THE PRACTICAL USE OF GINGER
Ginger is a beloved healing ally at the Chopra Center. We make
fresh gingerroot tea continuously available to our guests and
patients, encouraging them to sip three to four cups per day as part
of their detoxication program. According to Ayurveda, ginger is
one of the few medicinal substances that works on all three phases
of gastrointestinal function: digestion, absorption, and elimination.
We use ginger as part of our herbal apéritif, prepared by combining
fresh gingerroot juice with equal parts water, lemon juice, and
honey. An ounce taken at the start of a meal adds a spicy kick-start
to the digestive process.
The juice can also be used for external purposes when added to a
carrier oil and massaged into the sore spot. The essential volatile oil
in ginger has a mild local heating eect. When applied to the skin
for the treatment of rheumatic conditions, it stimulates local
circulation, acting as a counterirritant. A ginger paste can also be
applied directly to the head for the treatment of tension or migraine
headaches. For sore muscles we recommend adding a few teaspoons
of ginger powder to a hot bath before soaking.
Its pungent properties are also used to treat respiratory and
circulatory problems. For people with cold hands and feet, drinking
ginger tea or chewing on fresh or candied ginger can bring heat into
the system. If you are feeling the onset of a cold, chew on fresh
gingerroot to help clear your congested nasal passages.
If you are traveling on a boat or anticipating a turbulent plane
ride, keep a piece of fresh ginger with you and nibble on it when
your stomach feels queasy. If you are pregnant and experiencing
morning sickness, chewing on a small piece of ginger may settle
your delicate stomach.
HOW TO USE GINGER
Ginger is now universally available. It can be found in almost every
grocery store, where it can be purchased for less than twenty cents
an ounce. It is readily obtainable as a ground, dried powder, and
can be found as a candy in many Asian food markets.
Our recipe for ginger tea uses one teaspoon of grated root per one
pint of hot water. If the tea is a little too pungent for you, try adding
a teaspoon of shredded or chopped licorice root along with the
ginger. When used as an externally applied substance, obtain the
fresh juice by removing the outer brous layer and putting the inner
part of the root through a juicer. Then mix equal parts of the ginger
juice with a carrier oil such as almond or sesame, and massage into
the sore muscle or joint. To relieve a migraine, mix a tablespoon of
dry powder with a few drops of hot water until it is the consistency
of a paste, then apply to your forehead and temples and sit in a
warm bath.
AYURVEDA AND GINGER
From an Ayurvedic perspective, ginger’s heating qualities make it
useful for both Vata and Kapha disorders. Fresh ginger is better for
Vata imbalances, as its moisture content does not aggravate the
dryness of the Wind element. Dry ginger is good for Kapha
accumulations, where both the heat and dryness can balance the
wet coldness of Kapha, expressed in such conditions as sinus
congestion and obesity.
PRECAUTIONS
If you are experiencing indigestion or heartburn, limit your internal
use of ginger, as it can cause overheating. Combining ginger with
licorice root can help to balance its Pitta-aggravating properties.
Since ginger appears to have mild anti-platelet-forming eects, it
should be used cautiously by people who are on prescribed blood
thinners.
T
8
Navigating the Herbal Forest
hroughout this book we have presented our view that herbal
medicines are valuable components of a holistic health
approach. During your exploration of the dierent botanical
allies we have described, several important questions may have
arisen in your mind. When discussing herbs, we commonly hear the
following ones:
• How do I determine which herb I should take?
• Over what period of time should I take an herbal remedy?
• Is it benecial to take several herbs together?
• Can I safely mix herbs and pharmaceutical drugs?
• What is the appropriate role of other, non-herbal nutritional
supplements?
These are signicant questions, and you will get many dierent
answers depending upon the experience, background, and
theoretical framework of the person you ask. Before oering you
our responses, we again want to remind you to evaluate honestly
the other important aspects of your life before expecting an herb to
heal you. Take time each day to settle your mind through
meditation. Commune with nature on a regular basis. Focus on
eating a healthy, balanced diet with abundant fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, and beans. Be sure to get enough rest. Minimize toxic
substances, emotions, and relationships in your life. Only after you
have addressed these essential elements of good health is it time to
consider the appropriate use of herbal medicines. An herb is much
more likely to be eective if your overall lifestyle is nurturing to
your body, mind, and soul. So, without claiming that we have the
denitive answers, we oer our responses to the questions posed
above.
HOW DO I DETERMINE WHICH HERB I SHOULD TAKE?
We recommend beginning with a rasayana or rejuvenative herb if
you are not facing a specic or serious health concern. A daily dose
of ginseng or gotu kola can help raise your overall level of well-
being. According to Ayurveda, the herbal tonic jam derived from
amalaki (traditionally called Chavan Prash) can be taken by almost
anyone, regardless of age or sex. Rejuvenative substances are
designed to provide balanced herbal nutrition to enhance the body’s
natural resistance to illness. They are best considered subtle foods
that provide an herbal foundation to strengthen mind-body
integration.
If, after taking a general herbal tonic, you feel the specic need to
enliven your masculine energy, consider adding ashwagandha or
atmagupta to your diet. If you feel your feminine energy is lacking,
try taking shatavari or black cohosh. A basic rejuvenative such as
amalaki combined with ashwagandha or shatavari may be all you
need to maintain optimal vitality.
Using an herb for a specic symptom or ailment requires
sensitivity and awareness. We recommend that you rst identify
your primary health concern and choose one or two herbs that
address your problem. Be certain that you are receiving a high-
quality botanical agent, and take it as recommended. Although
many herbal formulas contain dozens of components, be sure that
you are receiving enough of any individual one to justify its
inclusion. We generally do not encourage people to take more than
a few supplements at a time. Be clear about your intended outcome,
and tune in to your body’s inner wisdom to see if you are achieving
the eects you are seeking.
If, after an adequate period of time, you are not satised with the
results, consider discontinuing the supplements you are taking and
reevaluating the problem at another level. For example, if you have
been dealing with recurrent viral infections, rather than trying other
immune-enhancing herbs, consider going on a detoxication
program for a couple of weeks to cleanse your system. Then add a
rejuvenative herb to boost your body’s immunity. The eective use
of herbal medicines is more art than science, and the artistry
requires that you regularly check in with your inner intelligence.
OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME SHOULD I TAKE AN HERBAL REMEDY?
If you are dealing with a chronic health concern, you may need to
take an herb for at least a couple of months before you notice its
benet. We often see people who are simultaneously taking many
dierent nutritional supplements, but have not allowed enough time
with any substance to adequately assess its eects. If you are
experiencing incomplete benets, it may be helpful to increase the
amount you are taking. In our experience the safest way to do this is
to add another dose during the day. In other words, if your muscle
ache is slightly reduced by taking guggulu twice daily, increase your
intake to three times a day. It is important to remember that most
herbs are subtle medicinal substances and need time to help your
mind and body reestablish balance. Patience is an important virtue
in healing.
It is also helpful to bear in mind that some herbs work best when
taken on a continuous basis, and that others have a limited duration
of ecacy. Echinacea is a good example of an herb that is best used
for a short time during the early stages of a cold or u, but loses its
potency if taken regularly. Herbs that have an inuence on the
mind, such as kava kava or valerian, are also best used on an
intermittent basis.
IS IT BENEFICIAL TO TAKE SEVERAL HERBS TOGETHER?
There is not a simple answer to this question. In many of the
traditional medical systems, the combining of numerous herbs into a
formula has been the rule. The classical texts of Ayurveda and
traditional Chinese medicine expound the view that the blending of
dierent herbs has a synergistic action and can minimize
undesirable side eects. Modern medicine takes the opposite point
of view, with an emphasis on standardized single chemicals. We
take a middle road. Our experience has demonstrated that
combining dierent herbs can balance and potentiate their ecacy.
On the other hand, formulas that contain dozens of botanical
constituents in subtherapeutic doses are unlikely to produce the
desired eects. If you are taking a large number of nutritional
supplements and you experience an adverse reaction, it is dicult
to identify the responsible agent. We encourage you to gain as much
information as possible about the herbal product you are taking and,
to the extent possible, keep it simple.
CAN I SAFELY MIX HERBS AND PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS?
The classical medical systems never addressed this question because
synthesized drugs were not available at the time they were
compiling their herbal formularies. We do not support the point of
view that because herbs are “natural” they do not negatively
interact with pharmacological medications. There are enough
reports in the medical literature on adverse supplement/medication
interactions to tread cautiously when mixing herbs with drugs.
Calming herbs may potentiate the tranquilizing eects of drugs.
Herbs that have a blood-thinning action may interfere with
anticoagulant medications. How an herb is metabolized and
eliminated from the body can inuence the metabolism and
elimination of drugs.
Our approach at the Chopra Center is to use herbs sparingly if a
person is on a prescribed medication. If the possibility exists of
eliminating a medicine and accomplishing similar benets with a
natural approach, we monitor the transition very carefully. We
encourage you strongly to have an open and honest dialogue with
your health-care provider before adding a medicinal herb or
discontinuing any prescription medication. Do not risk your health
through denial or wishful thinking. On the other hand, we believe it
is a worthy goal to nd the subtlest approach that can accomplish
the intended outcome.
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF OTHER, NON-HERBAL NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS?
We envision a nutritional spectrum that spans the range from food
on one end to drugs on the other. In between are supplements and
herbs. As anyone who has recently walked into a health-food store is
aware, there is an explosive growth in the nutriceutical world;
dozens of new isolated substances are coming to market with a wide
range of claimed health benets. Nutritional derivatives including
pycnogenols, coenzyme Q-10, grapeseed extract, green tea
catechins, quercetin, MSM, blue-green algae, SAM-e, carnitine, and
others are being consumed by increasing numbers of people. The
research on many of these substances is often compelling, but it is
dicult to know how to use them appropriately other than in a
scattershot manner. In several of our vitamin and circulation
formulas we have included these derivatives in combination with
standard vitamins and minerals, because we believe the preliminary
data warrants their inclusion. We view them as helping to
supplement the nutritional value of food, but not as a substitute for
good nutrition or for the appropriate use of herbal medicines.
Our recommendation for you is to do what we do—monitor the
data. When we learn about a new supplement, we gather as much
information as possible before adding it to our nutritional program.
Research what is known, and determine whether its intended
benets are of particular value for you. Our general principle is
“when in doubt, leave it out.” Again, do not substitute the latest
extracted agent for freshly prepared delicious meals.
NEW CONTEMPORARY MEDICINE
The evolutionary process moves in spirals. As our society circles
back around to a more natural approach, we believe it is important
to keep an open heart and mind, integrating the best of the old and
the new. To us this means that whether an approach is ancient or
modern does not, on it own, insure its signicance. The only
constant in life is change, and we must be open to a dynamic vision
of healing if we are not to overlook potentially valuable approaches.
On the other hand, in our exuberance to nd the fountain of youth,
we must temper our enthusiasm for every new promise with a
mature, balanced assessment. Our goal is nothing short of perfect
health. To this end, we hope that The Chopra Center Herbal
Handbook provides you with a valuable map for this stage of your
journey.
W
EPILOGUE
isdom traditions from time immemorial proclaim that the
human body and the cosmic body are reections of each
other. The intelligence that orchestrates the activity of our
minds and bodies is the same as that which orchestrates the activity
of the universe.
When we look out at nature and see a plant, we normally do not
say to ourselves, “This plant has a body and a mind.” And yet the
intelligence that is orchestrating the activity of the plant is the same
as the intelligence within us. The environment is our extended body,
and the plants and trees of this planet are aspects of ourselves. We
are intimately and inseparably interconnected. We share the same
raw materials—the same recycled earth, life force, mind, and spirit.
The ancient sages declared that the inner intelligence of our bodies
is the ultimate and supreme genius of nature, and mirrors the
wisdom of the universe.
In the pages of this book you have gained a lot of information
about how the body/mind of the herbal kingdom functions. When
you read about the properties of herbs, you are learning about how
the universe expresses itself in the botanical domain of awareness.
When you ingest the herb, you are using the elements and forces in
your extended body/mind—the world of plants—to correct the
mistakes in your personal body/mind.
Knowledge and information are not synonymous. As we look at
the great strides we have made in the biological sciences, we see
that in many instances we have sacriced wisdom for knowledge,
knowledge for information, and information for data. The data is of
minimal value if it does not lead to the expansion of wisdom. No
book can replace your inner knowing, your inner genius, your inner
wisdom. However, we hope this book will inspire you to explore
those domains of awareness where you intuitively feel how to use
the inner and outer resources of nature to enliven your healing
process. Read this book carefully, over and over again. Study the
traditional applications of the dierent herbs and formulas, but
most important, listen to your body. Even as you make use of the
suggestions in this book, become aware of the intuitive, wondrous,
miraculous processes in your own body. At the same time, cultivate
the awareness of what is happening in your subtle body—your
emotions, feelings, memories, and desires.
In time you will begin to witness your self as you breathe, move,
sit, eat, digest, metabolize, eliminate, and experience the world
through your ve senses. Creating balance in body and mind is the
rst step in healing, but health is more than the absence of disease.
It is more than physical, emotional, and social well-being. It is more
than tness and vitality. Health is ultimately a higher state of
consciousness.
Ayurveda reminds us that we are ripples of awareness in a vast
ocean of consciousness. Every time we become imbalanced, even
with a minor illness, it reects a disruption in our harmonious
relationship to the whole. The universe contains within its very
nature the ability to reestablish balance. The cosmos is too grand,
too powerful, and too intelligent to tolerate disruption for long.
When we consciously participate in restoring our well-being to its
ultimate level, we join in the cosmic dance. Health becomes more
than just physical, emotional, and social tness. It becomes the
spontaneous fulllment of desires. It becomes a domain of
awareness in which there is magic, enthusiasm, and wonder. It
becomes a state of personal transformation—a journey into healing.
It becomes a journey toward God. Nothing less will provide the level
of health we are all seeking. Nothing less will satisfy us.
NOTES
CHAPTER 1.
THE HERBAL RENAISSANCE
1. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use
in the United States, 1990–1997. JAMA 1998;280:1569–1575.
2. Elder NC, Gillcrist A, Minz R. Use of alternative health care by
family practice patients. Arch Fam Med 1997;6:181–184.
CHAPTER 2.
A BRIEF TOUR THROUGH HERBAL HISTORY
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lessons for natural product drug discovery and development. Med
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2. King SR, Tempesta MS. From shaman to human clinical trials: the
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3. Johnston B. One-third of nation’s adults use herbal remedies:
market estimated at $3.24 billion. HerbalGram 1997;40:49.
4. Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, et al. Trends in alternative medicine use
in the United States, 1990–1997. JAMA 1998;280:1569–1575.
5. Le Bars PL, Katz MM, et al. A placebo-controlled, double-blind,
randomized trial of an extract of Gingko biloba for dementia.
North American EGb Study Group. JAMA 1997;278:1327–1332.
6. Hippius H. St Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum) an herbal
antidepressant. Curr Med Res Opin 1998; 14:171–184.
7. Blumenthal M (ed.). The Complete German Commission E
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8. Wetzel MS, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ. Courses involving
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JAMA 1998;280:784–787.
GENERAL REFERENCES
1. Anderson FJ. An Illustrated History of the Herbals. New York:
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2. Artuso A. Drugs of Natural Origin. New York: The Pharmaceutical
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3. Leake CD. An Historical Account of Pharmacology to the 20th
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CHAPTER 3.
HOLISTICALLY HERBAL
General Ayurvedic References
1. Chopra D. Perfect Health. New York: Harmony Books, 1991.
2. Frawley D. Ayurvedic Healing. Salt Lake City: Passage Press, 1989.
3. Lad V. Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing. Wilmot, WI: Lotus
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4. Simon D. The Wisdom of Healing. New York: Harmony Books,
1997.
AROMATHERAPY REFERENCES
1. Davis P. Aromatherapy An A–Z. Essex, England: Saron Walden,
1988.
2. Lawless J. Aromatherapy and the Mind. San Francisco: Thorsons,
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3. Miller L, Miller B. Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Twin Lakes, WI:
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CHAPTER 4.
SCIENCE-OF-LIFE HERBOLOGY
1. Bhishagratna KK (ed.). The Sushruta Samhita. Varanasi, India:
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General Ayurvedic Herbal References
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2. Kapoor LD. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton,
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CHAPTER 5.
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THE FORTY HERBS OF THE CHOPRA CENTER FORMULARY
ALLIUM SATIVUM/GARLIC
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4. Isaacsohn JL, Moser M, et al. Garlic powder and plasma lipids
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ALOE FERA/ALOE
1. Collins CE, Collins C. Roentgen dermatitis treated with fresh
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ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA/INDIAN GENTIAN
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COLEUS FORSKOHLII/FORSKOLIN
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COMMIPHORA MUKUL/GUGGULU
1. Satyavati GV, Dwarakanath C, Tripathi SN. Experimental studies
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CRATAEGUS OXYACANTHA/HAWTHORN
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CURCURMA LONGA/TURMERIC
1. Shalani VK, Srinivas L. Lipid peroxide induced DNA damage:
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ECHINACEA PURPUREA/ECHINACEA
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15. Mengs U, Clare CB, Poiley JA. Toxicity of Echinacea purpurea.
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ELETTERIA CARDAMOMUM/CARDAMOM
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2. Huang YB, Hsu LR, et al. Crude drug (zingiberaceae)
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GINGKO BILOBA/GINGKO
1. Auquet M, Delaotte S, et al. The pharmacological basis for the
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12. Blume J, Kieser M, Holscher U. Placebo-controlled double-blind
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MUCUNA PRURIENS/ATMAGUPTA
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PICRORHIZA KURROA/KUTKI
1. Chaturvedi GN, Singh RH. Treatment of jaundice with an
indigenous drug Picrorhiza kurroa—a clinical and experimental
study. Curr Med Pract 1965;9:451–453.
2. Dwivedi Y, Rastogi R, et al. Eects of picroliv, the active principle
of Picrorhiza kurroa, on biochemical changes in rat liver poisoned
by Amanita phalliodes. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1992;13:197–
200.
3. Dwivedi Y, Rastogi R, et al. Perfusion with picroliv reverses
biochemical changes induced in livers of rats toxicated with
galactosamine or thioacetamide. Planta Med 1993;59: 418–420.
4. Vaidya AB, Antarkar DS, et al. Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutaki) Royle
ex Benth as a hepatoprotective agent—experimental & clinical
studies. J Postgrad Med 1996;42:105–108.
5. Floersheim GL, Bieri A, et al. Protection against Amanita
phalloides by the iridoid glycoside mixture of Picrorhiza kurroa
(kutkin). Agents Actions 1990;29:386–387.
6. Mittal N, Gupta N, et al. Protective eect of picroliv from
Picrorhiza kurroa against Leishmania donovani in Mesocricetus.
Life Sci 1998;63:1823–1834.
7. Sinha M, Mehrotra J, et al. Picroliv, the iridoid glycoside fraction
of Picrorhiza kurroa, selectively augments human T cell response
to mycobacterial protein antigens. Immunopharmacol
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8. Rastogi R, Saksena S, et al. Picroliv protects against alcohol-
induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats. Planta Med 1996;62:283–
285.
9. Mehrotra R, Rawat S, et al. In vitro studies on the eect of certain
natural products against hepatitis B virus. Indian J Med Res
1990;92:133–138.
10. Shukla B, Visen PK, et al. Choleretic eect of picroliv, the
hepatoprotective principle of Picrorhiza kurroa. Planta Med
1991;57: 29–33.
11. Luper S. A review of plants used in the treatment of liver
disease: part 1. Altern Med Rev 1998;3:410–321.
12. Baruah CC, Gupta PP, et al. Anti-allergic and anti-anaphylactic
activity of picroliv—a standardized iridoid glycoside fraction of
Picrorhiza kurroa. Pharmacol Res 1998;38: 487–492.
13. Dorsch W, Stuooner H, et al. Antiasthmatic eects of Picrorhiza
kurroa: androsin prevents allergin and PAF-induced bronchial
obstruction in guinea pigs. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol
1991;95:128–133.
14. Engels F, Renirie BF, et al. Eects of apocynin, a drug isolated
from the roots of Picrorhiza kurroa, on arachidonic acid
metabolism. FEBS Lett 1992;305:254–256.
15. Dorsch W, Wagner H. New antiasthmatic drugs from traditional
medicine? Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol 1991;94:262–265.
16. Sharma ML, Rao CS, et al. Immunostimulatory activity of
Picrorhiza kurroa leaf extract. J Ethnopharmacol 1994;41:185–
192.
PIPER METHYSTICUM/KAVA KAVA
1. Kinzler E, Kromer J, Lehmann E. Eect of a special kava extract
in patients with anxiety-, tension-, and excitation states of
nonpsychotic genesis. Double blind study with placebos over 4
weeks. Arzneimittelforschung 1991;41: 585–588.
2. Volz HP, Kieser M. Kava-kava extract WS 1490 versus placebo in
anxiety disorders—a randomized placebo-controlled 25-week
outpatient trial. Pharmacopsychiatry 1997;30:1–5.
3. Scherer J. Kava-kava extract in anxiety disorders: an outpatient
observational study. Adv Ther 1998;15:261–269.
4. Warnecke G. Psychosomatic dysfunctions in the female
climacteric. Clinical eectiveness and tolerance of kava extract
WS 1490. Fortschr Med 1991;119–122.
5. Munte TF, Heinze HJ, et al. Eects of oxazepam and an extract of
kava roots (Piper methysticum) on event-related potentials in a
word recognition task. Neuropsychology 1993; 27:46–53.
6. Heinze HJ, Munthe TF, et al. Pharmacopsychological eects of
oxazepam and kavaextract in a visual search paradigm assessed
with event-related potentials. Pharmacopsychiatry 1994;27:224–
230.
7. Herberg KW. Eect of kava-special extract WS 1490 combined
with ethyl alcohol on safety-relevant performance parameters.
Blutalkohol 1993;30:96–105.
8. Langosch JM, Normann C, et al. The inuence of (+/–) kavain on
population spikes and long-term potentiation in guinea pig
hippocampal slices. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol
1998;120:545–549.
9. Boonen G, Haberlein H. Inuence of genuine kavapyrone
enantiomers on the GABA-A binding site. Planta Med
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10. Schmitz D, Zhang CL, et al. Eects of methysticin on three
dierent models of seizure like events studied in rat hippocampal
and entorhinal cortex slices. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
1995;351:348–355.
11. Jamieson DD, Dueld PH. The antinociceptive actions of kava
components in mice. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1990;17:495–507.
12. Backhauss C, Krieglstein J. Extract of kava (Piper methysticum)
and its methysticin constituents protect brain tissue against
ischemic damage in rodents. Eur J Pharmacol 1993;215: 265–269.
13. Dueld PH, Jamieson D. Development of tolerance to kava in
mice. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 1991;18:571–578.
14. Almeida JC, Grimsley EW. Coma from the health food store:
interaction between kava and alprazolam. Ann Intern Med
1996;125: 940–941.
15. Strahl S, Ehret V, et al. Necrotizing hepatitis after taking herbal
remedies. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 1998;123:1410–1414.
16. Norton SA, Ruze P. Kava dermopathy. J Am Acad Dermatol
1994;31:89–97.
17. Ruze P. Kava-induced dermopathy: a niacin deciency? Lancet
1990;335:1442–1445.
18. Jappe U, Franke I, et al. Sebotropic drug reaction resulting from
kava-kava extract therapy: a new entity? J Am Acad Dermatol
1998;38: 104–106.
19. Suss R, Lehmann P. Hematogenous contact eczema cause by
phytogenic drugs exemplied by kava root extract. Hautarzt
1996;47:459–461.
SERENOA REPENS/SAW PALMETTO
1. Sultan C, Terraza A, et al. Inhibition of androgen metabolism and
binding by a liposterolic extract of Serenoa repens B in human
foreskin broblasts. J Steroid Biochem 1984;20:414–419.
2. Weisser H, Tunn S, et al. Eects of the sabal serrulata extract IDS
89 and its subfractions on 5 alpha-reductase activity in human
benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 1996;28:300–306.
3. Weisser H, Behnke B, et al. Enzyme activities in tissue of human
benign prostatic hyperplasia after three months’ treatment with
Sabal serrulata extract IDS 89 (Strogen) or placebo. Eur Urol
1997;31:97–101.
4. Gutierrez M, Garcia de Boto MJ, et al. Mechanisms involved in
the spasmolytic eect of extracts from Sabal serrulata fruit on
smooth muscle. Gen Pharmacol 1996;27:171–176.
5. Goepel M, Hecker U, et al. Saw palmetto extracts potently and
noncompetitively inhibit human alpha 1-adrenoceptors in vitro.
Prostate 1999;38:210–215.
6. Breu W, Hagenlocher M, et al. Anti-inammatory activity of sabal
fruit extracts prepared with supercritical carbon dioxide. In vitro
antagonists of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase metabolism.
Arzneimittelforschung 1992;42:547–551.
7. Carbin BE, Larsson B, Lindahl O. Treatment of benign prostatic
hyperplasia with phytosterols. Br J Urol 1990;66:639–641.
8. Romics I, Schmits H, Frang D. Experience in treating benign
prostatic hypertrophy with Sabal serrulata for one year. Int Urol
Nephrol 1993;25:565–569.
9. Vahlensieck W, Volp A, et al. Benign prostatic hyperplasia—
treatment with sabal fruit extract. A treatment of 1,334 patients.
Fortschr Med 1993;111:323–326.
10. Kondas J, Phillips V, Dioszeghy G. Sabal serrulata extract
(Strogen forte) in the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic
hyperplasia. Int Urol Nephrol 1996;28:767–772.
11. Gerber GS, Zagaja GP, et al. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) in
men with lower urinary tract symptoms: eects on urodynamic
parameters and voiding symptoms. Urology 1998; 51:1003–1007.
12. Wilt TJ, Ishana A, et al. Saw palmetto extract for treatment of
benign prostatic hyperplasia: a systematic review. JAMA
1998;280:1604–1609.
13. Ondrizek RR, Chan PJ, et al. Inhibition of human sperm motility
by specic herbs used in alternative medicine. J Assist Reprod
Genet 1999;16:87–91.
SILYBUM MARIANUM/MILK THISTLE
1. Flora K, Hahn M, et al. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the
therapy of liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol 1998;93:139–143.
2. Schoepen RD, Lange OK, et al. Searching for a new therapeutic
principle. Experience with hepatic therapeutic agent legalon. Med
Welt 1969;20:888–893.
3. Schoepen RD, Lange OK. Therapy of hepatoses. Therapeutic use
of silymarin. Med Welt 1970;21:691–698.
4. Magliulo E, Gagliardi B, Fiori GP. Zur Wirkung von Silymarin
beider Behandlung der akuten Virushepatitis. Med Klin 1978;73.
5. Ferenci P, Dragosics B, et al. Randomized controlled trial of
silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J
Hepatol 1989;9:105–113.
6. Vogel G. Natural substances with eects on the liver. In New
Natural Products and Plant Drugs with Pharmacological, Biological or
Therapeutical Activity. New York: Springer-Verlag 1977:2651–
2665.
7. Hikino H, Kiso Y, et al. Antihepatotoxic actions of avanolignans
from Silybum marianum fruits. Planta Med 1984;50: 248–250.
8. Kreeman V, Skottova N, et al. Silymarin inhibits the development
of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. Planta Med 1998;64:
138–142.
9. Skottova N, Kreeman V. Silymarin as a potential
hypocholesterolaemic drug. Physiol Res 1998;47:1–7.
10. Rui YC. Advances in pharmacological studies of silymarin. Mem
Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1991;86 (Suppl 2):79–85.
TANACETUM PARTHENIUM/FEVERFEW
1. Makheja Am, Bailey JM. A platelet phosphlipase inhibitor from
the medicinal herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). Prostagland
Leukotriene Med 1982;8:653–660.
2. Pugh WJ, Sambo K. Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors in
feverfew. J Pharm Pharmacol 1988;40:743–745.
3. Hwang D, Fischer NH, et al. Inhibition of the expression of
inducible cyclooxygenase and proinammatory cytokines by
sesquiterpene lactones in macrophages correlates with the
inhibition of MAP kinases. Biochem Biophys Res Commun
1996;226:810–818.
4. Groenewegen WA, Heptinstall S. A comparison of the eects of an
extract of feverfew and parthenolide, a component of feverfew, on
human platelet activity in-vitro. J Pharm Pharmacol 1990;42:553–
557.
5. Murch SJM, Simmons CB, Saxena PK. Melatonin in feverfew and
other medicinal plants. Lancet 1997;350:1598–1599.
6. Vogler BK, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Feverfew as a preventive
treatment for migraine: a systematic review. Cephalalgia 1998;18:
704–708.
7. Johnson ES, Kadam NP, et al. Ecacy of feverfew as prophylactic
treatment of migraine. Br Med J 1985;291:569–573.
8. Murphy JJ, Heptinstall S, Mitchell JR. Randomised double-blind
placebo-controlled trial of feverfew in migraine prevention. Lancet
1988;ii:189–192.
9. Palevitch D, Earon G, Carasso R. Feverfew (Tanacetum
parthenium) as a prophylactic treatment for migraine: a double-
blind placebo-controlled study. Phytother Res 1997;11:508–511.
10. See note 7 above.
11. See note 8 above.
12. Pattrick M, Heptinstall S, Doherty M. Feverfew in rheumatoid
arthritis: a double blind, placebo-controlled study. Ann Rheum Dis
1989;48:547–549.
13. Heptinstall S, Awang DVC, et al. Pathenolide content and
bioactivity of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.).
Estimation of commercial and authenticated feverfew products. J
Phamr Pharmacol 1992;44: 391–395.
TERMINALIA ARJUNA/ARJUNA
1. Patnaik N. Arjuna. In The Garden of Life. 1993. Doubleday, New
York: p. 79.
2. Sahila HP, Udupa SI, Udupa AL. Hypolipidemic activity of three
indigenous drugs in experimentally induced atherosclerosis. Int J
Cardiol 1998;67:119–124.
3. Ram A, Lauria P, et al. Hypocholesterolaemic eects of
Terminalia arjuna tree bark. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;55:165–169.
4. Dwivedi S, Agarwal MP. Antianginal and cardioprotective eects
of Terminalia arjuna, an indigenous drug, in coronary artery
disease. J Assoc Physicians India 1994;42:287–289.
5. Dwivedi S, Jauhari R. Benecial eects of Terminalia arjuna in
coronary artery disease. Indian Heart J 1997;49:507–510.
6. Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD. Slautary eect of
Terminallia arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure.
Int J Cardiol 1995;49:191–199.
7. Seth SD, Maulik M, et al. Role of Lipistat in protection against
isoproterenol induced myocardial necrosis in rats: a biochemical
and histopathological study. Indian J Phyisol Pharmacol
1998;42:101–106.
8. Pettit GR, Hoard MS, et al. Antineoplastic agents 338. The cancer
cell growth inhibitory constituents of Terminalia arjuna
(Combretaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 1996;53:57–63.
9. Perumal Samy R, Ignacimuthu S, Sen A. Screening of 34 Indian
medicinal plants for antibacterial properties. J Ethnopharmacol
1998;62:173–182.
TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA/AMRIT
1. Kapil A, Sharma S. Immunopotentiating compounds from
Tinospora cordifolia. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;58:89–95.
2. Dhuley JN. Eect of some Indian herbs on macrophage functions
in ochratoxin A treated mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;58:15–20.
3. Thatte UM, Kulkarni MR, Dahanukar SA. Immunotherapeutic
modication of Escherichia coli perotonitis and bacteremia by
Tinospora cordifolia. J postgrad Med 1992;38:13–15.
4. Rege NN, Dahanukar SA. Quantitation of microbicidal activity of
mononuclear phagocytes: an in vitro technique. J Postgrad Med
1993;39:22–25.
5. Sohni YR, Bhatt RM. Activity of a crude extract formulation in
experimental hepatic amoebiasis and in immunomodulation
studies. J Ethnopharmacol 1996;54:119–124.
6. Rege NN, Nazareth HM, et al. Modulation of immunosuppression
in obstuctive jaundice by Tinospora cordifolia. Indian J Med Res
1989;90:478–483.
7. Bapat RD, Rege NN, et al. Can we do away with PTBD? HPB Surg
1995;9:5–11.
8. Rege N, Bapat RD, et al. Immunotherapy with Tinospora
cordifolia: a new lead in the management of obstructive jaundice.
Indian J Gastroenterol 1993;12:5–8.
9. Jagetia GC, Nayak V, Vidyasagar MS. Evaluation of the
antineoplastic activity of guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) in
cultured HeLa cells. Cancer Lett 1998;127:71–82.
10. Mathew S, Kuttan G. Antioxidant activity of Tinospora cordifolia
and its usefulness in the amelioration of cyclophosphamide
induced toxicity. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 1997;16:407–411.
11. Wadood N, Wadood A, Shah SA. Eect of Tinospora cordifolia
on blood glucose and total lipid levels of normal and alloxan-
diabetic rabbits. Planta Med 1992;58:131–136.
12. Stanely Mainsen Prince P, Menon VP, Gunasekaran G.
Hypolipidaemic action of Tinospora cordifolia roots in alloxan
diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;63:53–57.
13. Rege NN, Thatte UM, Dahanukar SA. Adaptogenic properties of
six rasayana herbs used in Ayurvedic medicine. Phytother Res
1999;13:275–291.
TRIGONELLA FOENUM-GRAECUM/FENUGREEK
1. Mowrey DB. Cholesterol regulation. In The Scientic Validation of
Herbal Medicine. 1986, Keats Publishing, New Canaan, CT, p. 41.
2. Ajabnoor MA, Tilmisany AK. Eect of Trigonella foenum graceum
on blood glucose levels in normal and alloxan-diabetic mice. J
Ethnopharmacol 1988;22:45–49.
3. Khosla P, Gupta DD, Nagpal RK. Eect of Trigonella foenum
graecum (Fenugreek) on blood glucose in normal and diabetic
rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1995;39:173–174.
4. Ali L, Azad Khan AK, et al. Characterization of the hypoglycemic
eects of Trigonella foenum graecum seed. Planta Med 1995;61:
358–360.
5. Haefele C, Bonls C, Sauvaire Y. Characterization of a
dioxygenase from Trigonella foenum-graecum involved in 4-
hyrdrox-yleucine biosynthesis. Phytochemistry 1997;44: 563–566.
6. Sharma RD, Raghuram TC, Rao NS. Eect of fenugreek seeds on
blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. Eur J Clin Nutr
1990; 44:301–306.
7. Bordia A, Verma SK, Srivastava KC. Eect of ginger (Zingiber
ocinale Rosc.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) on
blood lipids, blood sugar and platelet aggregation in patients with
coronary artery disease. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids
1997;56:379–384.
8. Stark A, Madar Z. The eect of an ethanol extract derived from
fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on bile acid absorption
and cholesterol levels in rats. Br J Nutr 1993;69:277–287.
9. Petit PR, Sauvaire YD, et al. Steroid saponins from fenugreek
seeds: extraction, purication, and pharmacological investigation
on feeding behavior and plasma cholesterol. Steroids
1995;60:674–680.
10. Ravikumar P, Anuradha CV. Eect of fenugreek seeds on blood
lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in diabetic rats. Phytother Res
1999;13:197–201.
11. Javan M, Ahmadiani A, et al. Antinociceptive eects of
Trigonella foenum-graecum leaves extract. J Ethnopharmacol
1997;58:125–129.
12. Yadav SK, Sehgal S. Eect of home processing and storage on
ascorbic acid and beta-carotene content of Bathua (Chenopodium
album) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) leaves. Planta
Foods Hum Nutr 1997;50:239–247.
13. Ahsan SK, Tariq M, et al. Eect of Trigonella foenum-graecum
and Ammi majus on calcium oxalate urolithiasis in rats. J
Ethnopharmacol 1989;26:249–254.
14. Patil SP, Niphadkar PV, Bapat MM. Allergy to fenugreek
(Trigonella foenum graecum). Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol
1997;78:297–300.
VALERIANA SP./VALERIAN
1. Prabhu V, Karanath KS, Rao A. Eects of Nardostachys jatamansi
on biogenic amines and inhibitory amino acids in the rat brain.
Planta Med 1994;60:140–117.
2. Blumenthal M. EAPC les petitions for OTC drug use for valerian
and ginger. HerbalGram 1995;35:19–20.
3. Lindahl O, Lindwall L. Double-blind study of a valerian
preparation. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1989;32:1065–1066.
4. Schulz H, Stolz C, Muller J. The eect of valerian extract on sleep
polygraphy in poor sleepers: a pilot study. Pharmacopsychiatry
1994;27:146–151.
5. Leatherwood P, Chauard F, et al. Aqueous extract of valerian
root (Valeriana ocinalis) improves sleep quality in man.
Pharmacol Biochem Behav 1982;17:6541.
6. Leatherwood PD, Chauard F. Quantifying the eects of mild
sedatives. J Psychiatr Res 1982–83;17:115–122.
7. Sakamoto T, Mitani Y, Nakajima K. Psychotropic eects of
Japanese valerian root extracts. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo)
1992;40: 758–761.
8. Andreatini R, Leite JR. Eect of valeprotriates on the behavior of
rats in the elevated plus-maze during diazepam withdrawal. Eur J
Pharmacol 1994;260:233–235.
9. Rasmussen P. A role for phytotherapy in the treatment of
benzodiazepine and opiate drug withdrawal (Part 1). The
European J Herbal Medicine 1997;3:11–21.
10. Rucker G, Tautges J, et al. Isolation and pharacodynamic
activity of the sesquiterpene valeranone from Nardostachys
jatamansi DC. Arzneimittelforschung 1978;28:7–13.
11. Hazelho B, Malingre TM, Meijer DK. Antispasmodic eects of
valeriana compounds: an in-vivo and in-vitro study on the guinea-
pig ileum. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther 1982;257: 274–287.
12. Dixit VP, Jain P, Joshi SC. Hypolipidaemic eects of Cucurma
longa L and Nardostachys jata, amsi DC in triton-induced
hyperlipidaemic rats. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1988;32:299–
304.
13. Sarbhoy AK, Varshney JL, et al. Ecacy of some essential oils
and their constituents on few ubiquitous molds. Zentralbl Bakteriol
(Naturwiss) 1978;133:723–725.
14. Balderer G, Borbely AA. Eect of valerian on human sleep.
Psychopharmacology (Berl) 1985;87:406–409.
15. Willey LB, Mady SP, et al. Valerian overdose: a case report. Vet
Hum Toxicol 1995;37:364–365.
16. Gerhard U, Linnenbrink N, et al. Vigilance-decreasing eects of
2 plant-derived sedatives. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax
1996;85:473–481.
WITHANIA SOMNIFERA/ASHWAGANDHA
1. Dhuley JN. Eect of ashwagandha on lipid peroxidation in stress-
induced animals. J Ethnopharmacol 1998;60:173–178.
2. Bhattacharya SK, Satyan KS, Ghosal S. Antioxidant activity of
glycowithanolides from Withania somnifera. Indian J Exp Biol
1997;35:236–239.
3. Dhuley JN. Eect of some Indian herbs on macrophage functions
in ochratoxin A treated mice. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;58:15–20.
4. Ziauddin M, Phansalkar N, et al. Studies on the
immunomodulatory eects of Ashwagandha. J Ethnopharmacol
1996;50:69–76.
5. Kuttan G. Use of Withania somnifera Dunal as an adjuvant during
radiation therapy. Indian J Exp Biol 1996;34:854–856.
6. Davis L, Kuttan G. Suppressive eect of cyclophosphamide-
induced toxicity by Withania somnifera extract in mice. J
Ethnopharmacol 1998;62:209–214.
7. Devi PU, Akagi K, et al. Withaferin A: a new radiosensitizer from
the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera. Int J Radiat Biol
1996;69:193–197.
8. Mehta AK, Binkley P, et al. Pharmacological eects of Withania
somnifera root extract on GABA receptor complex. Indian J Med
Res 1991;94:312–315.
9. Schleibs R, Liebmann A, et al. Systemic administration of dened
extracts from Withania somnifera (Indian Ginseng) and Shilajit
dierentially aects cholinergic but not glutamatergic and
GABAergic markers in rat brain. Neurochem Int 1997;30:181–190.
10. Karnick CR. A double-blind, placebo controlled clinical study on
the eects of Withania somnifera and Panax ginseng extracts on
psychomotor performance in healthy Indian volunteers. Indian
Med 1991;3:1–5.
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE/GINGER
1. Phillips S, Ruggier R, Hutchinson SE. Zingiber ocinale (ginger)
—an antiemetic for day case surgery. Anaesthesia 1993;48:715–
717.
2. Arfeen Z, Owen H, et al. A double-blind randomized controlled
trial of ginger for the prevention of postoperative nausea and
vomiting. Anaesth Intensive Care 1995;23:449–452.
3. Schmid R, Schick T, et al. Comparison of seven commonly used
agents for prophylaxis of seasickness. J Travel Med 1994;1:203–
206.
4. Mowrey DB, Clayson DE. Motion sickness, ginger and
psychophysics. The Lancet 1982;1: 655–657.
5. Fischer-Rasmussen W, Kjaer SK, et al. Ginger treatment of
hyperemesis gravidarum. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Ciol
1991;38: 19–24.
6. Fulder S, Tenne M. Ginger as an anti-nausea remedy in pregnancy
—the issue of safety. HerbalGram 38:47–50.
7. Sharma SS, Gupta YK. Reversal of cisplatin-induced delay in
gastric emptying in rats by ginger (Zingiber ocinale). J
Ethnopharmacol 1998;62:49–55.
8. Bhandari U, Sharma JN, Zafar R. The protective action of
ethanolic ginger (Zingiber ocinale) extract in cholesterol fed
rabbits. J Ethnopharmacol 1998;61:167–171.
9. Verma SK, Singh J, et al. Eect of ginger on platelet aggregation
in man. Indian J Med Res 1993;98:240–242.
THE CHOPRA CENTER
HERBAL FORMULARY
SUPPORT FORMULAS
Many of the herbs described in this book are available as components of
the Chopra Center Herbal Formulary Support formulas. For more
information on these and other nutritional supplements, visit our website
at www.MyPotential.com
The Forty Herbs of the Chopra Formulary
RECOMMENDED HERBAL
REFERENCES
Blumenthal, Mark. The Complete German Commission E
Monographs. Boston, Mass.: American Botanical Council, 1998.
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Publishers, 1991.
Dastur, J. F. Medicinal Plants of India and Pakistan. Bombay: D. B.
Taraporevala Sons & Co., 1962.
Dutt, U. C. Materia Medica of the Hindus. Calcutta: Krinshnadas
Sanskrit Studies, 1922.
Kapoor, L. D. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton:
CRC Press, 1990.
Lad, Vasant, and David Frawley. 1986. The Yoga of Herbs. Santa
Fe: Lotus Press, 1986.
Mowrey, Daniel B. The Scientic Validation of Herbal Medicine.
New Canaan, Conn.: Keats Publishing, 1986.
Patnaik, Naveen. The Garden of Life. New York: Doubleday, 1993.
Pizzorno, Joseph E., and Murray, Michael T. A Textbook of Natural
Medicine. Bothell, Wash.: Bastyr University Publications, 1996.
Tierra, Michael. Planetary Herbology. Santa Fe: Lotus Press, 1988.
Tyler, Varro E. The Honest Herbal. New York: Pharmaceutical
Products Press, 1993.
RECOMMENDED
AYURVEDIC REFERENCES
Chopra, Deepak. Perfect Health. New York: Harmony Books, 2000.
Dash, Bhagwan. A Handbook of Ayurveda. New Delhi: Concept
Publishing, 1987.
Frawley, David. Ayurvedic Healing. Salt Lake City: Passage Press,
1989.
Joshi, Sunil. Ayurveda & Panchakarma. Twin Lakes, Wisc.: Lotus
Press, 1996.
Renade, Subash. Natural Healing Through Ayurveda. Salt Lake City:
Passage Press, 1993.
Simon, David. The Wisdom of Healing. New York: Random House,
1997.
ALSO BY DEEPAK CHOPRA
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