Black Horehound (Ballota nigra)

What is Black Horehound?

Black horehound is best known for its offensive odour — which resembles stale sweat.

Despite the unfortunate smell of this mint-relative, it has a lot to offer therapeutically.

Black horehound is one of the oldest medicinal herb species from Europe. It has a long history of use for infectious diseases including rabies and parasites, as well as for nausea and vomiting caused by neurological disorders.

This herb is a bit of a jack of all trades — but master of none. It offer reliable nervine, antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anticholesterolaemic effects — all thanks to five unique phenylpropanoid glycosides contained in the leaves, stems, and roots of the herb.

What is Black Horehound Used For?

Many of the tradition uses of the herb have yet to be validated. The primary traditional uses for the herb that still stand today are for treating motion sickness or other causes of nausea or vomiting of neurological origin.

This herb is also still used as an antimicrobial for the digestive tract and topically on the skin.

Newer applications for the herb are aimed towards high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

Traditional Uses of Black Horehound

Black horehound was used for a lot of different applications. It was also a common remedy for motion sickness or any vomiting caused by neurological origins (rather than digestive).

Topically, the leaves were used to treat wounds, burns, and infection. Some herbalists even gave the herb as an enema for parasitic worms.

In Europe, where the herb originated from, the flowering tops were used to treat rabies after getting bitten by a rabid dog.

Herb Details: Black Horehound

Herbal Actions:

• Antibacterial
• Anticholesterolaemic
• Antiemetic
• Antifungal
• Antioxidant
• Antiprotozoal
• Antispasmodic
• Expectorant
• Hypoglycaemic
• Nervine
• Sedative

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  10 20 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

Flowering Tops

Family Name

Lamiaceae

Distribution

Europe & North America

Constituents of Interest

• Verbascoside
• Forsythoside B
• Arenarioside
• Ballotetroside
• Malic Acid

Common Names

• Black Horehound
• Black Stinking Horehound
• Fetid Horehound
• Stinking Roger

CYP450

• Unknown

Pregnancy

• Avoid black horehound if pregnant or breastfeeding

Duration of Use

• insert

Botanical Information

Black horehound originated from Europe but is now widespread across North America as well. The herb can grow over 1 meter tall and tends to grow on the side of the road in rural areas.

What this plant is best known for is its disagreeable odor — which can be described as stale sweat. The Greek name, ballo translates to “getting rid of”, or “throwing away”. This smell protects the herb by repelling both animals and humans.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

+ Anticholesterolaemic

One of the major causes of atherosclerosis is the result of oxidization of low-density lipoproteins LDL) [1].

Some of the phenolic compounds in black horehound (verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside, and ballotetroside) were found to inhibit LDL oxidation through Cu2+ pathway [2].

+ Antimicrobial

Five phenolic compounds from black horehound were investigated to explore their antimicrobial potential. Of these five, three (verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside) were found to have moderate activity against Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus [3, 4].

Another study looked at the antimicrobial effects of each part of the plant (leaves, roots, and stems). The results suggested the crude extract of the roots had the best inhibitory activity on the strains tested (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klensiella pneumonia, Proteus miribalis, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium solani, and Leishmania) [5]. The leaf and stem chloroform extracts had similar antimicrobial action.

+ Sedative

Phenylpropanoid compounds from black horehound were found to bind to benzodiazepine, dopaminergic, and morphinic receptors in animals [6, 4]. This provides a mechanism of action for the traditional sedative uses of the herb — but more research is needed to further elucidate these findings.

Phytochemistry

The flowering tops (the part used medicinally) are rich in diterpenoid lactones (labdane type) — such as ballotenol, ballotinone, 7alpha-acetoxymarrubiin, hispanolone, and preleosibirin.

The tops are also rich in phenolic compounds (luteolin-7-lactate, luteolin-7-glucosyl-lactate), phenylpropanoid glycosides (verbascoside, forsythoside B, arenarioside, ballotetroside), organic acids (quinic acid), and volatile oils.

Cautions & Safety Information:

Black horehound is considered a safe herb, with little chances of experiencing any side effects.

Allergies to the herb have been noted, so caution is advised if using the herb for the first time. Always start with a small amount first to see how you react before using a full dose.

Black horehound may interact with the following medication classes:

• Antipsychotic medications (overlap in receptor activation)

• Anti-Parkinson’s disease medications (overlap in dopaminergic action)

• Sedatives (overlap in sedative effects and benzodiazepine receptor activation)

• Iron supplements (black horehound has been suggested to prevent the absorption of iron)

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated March 2020)

Recent Blog Posts:

Featured Herb Monographs

References:

[1] — Steinberg, D. (1997). Low density lipoprotein oxidation and its pathobiological significance.

[2] — Seidel, V., Verholle, M., Malard, Y., Tillequin, F., Fruchart, J. C., Duriez, P., ... & Teissier, E. (2000). Phenylpropanoids from Ballota nigra L. inhibit in vitro LDL peroxidation.

[3] — Didry, N., Seidel, V., Dubreuil, L., Tillequin, F., & Bailleul, F. (1999). Isolation and antibacterial activity of phenylpropanoid derivatives from Ballota nigra.

[4] — Al-Snafi, A. E. (2015). The Pharmacological Importance of Ballota nigra–A review.

[5] — Ullah, N., Ahmad, I., & Ayaz, S. (2014). In vitro antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities, phytochemical screening and heavy metals toxicity of different parts of Ballota nigra.

[6] — Daels-Rakotoarison, D. A., Seidel, V., Gressier, B., Brunet, C., Tillequin, F., Bailleul, F., ... & Cazin, J. C. (2000). Neurosedative and antioxidant activities of phenylpropanoids from Ballota nigra.

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus)

What is Astragalus?

Astragalus (aka milkvetch) is a member of the legume family — which makes it a relative of peanuts, peas, and soy.

This medicinal herb is common in both Western and Eastern herbal medicine. It has a long history of use for immune-related conditions for conditions of immune-excess (such as autoimmunity) as well as deficiency (during infection or immunodeficiencies).

Today, the most common use of the herb if for its benefits on immunity and cardiotonic. Astragalus supplements are used as a prophylaxis for infection (especially of the respiratory tract), and as a daily tonic for promoting overall vitality and stamina.

What is Astragalus Used For?

Astragalus has many uses as a respiratory tonic, but the most common application of the herb in modern herbal medicine is for boosting or modulating the immune system.

It’s popular for use with various forms of immunodeficiency, including viral and bacterial infection (prophylaxis), and as an adjunctive cancer treatment.

The immune-boosting effects of this herb isn’t one-directional — astragalus is also useful for immune excess, such as with autoimmunity or allergic reaction.

Many people use astragalus as a general health supplement for preventing cold or flu, or to enhance cardiovascular function, vitality, and overall stamina.

Other uses include, hepatitis, diarrhea, hypertension, diabetes, and Lyme Disease (not late stage).

Herb Details: Astragalus

Herbal Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Antioxidant
• Antiviral
• Cardiotonic
• Diuretic
• Hepatoprotective
• Hypotensive
• Immunomodulator
• Immune Stimulant

Dosage

• (1:1 Liquid Extract)
  20 – 40 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Root

Family Name

• Leguminosae

Distribution

• Eastern Asia

Constituents of Interest

• b-Glucans
• Astragalosides
• Formononetin
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid

Common Names

• Astragalus
• Milk-Vetch Root
• Huang Qi (China)
• Hwanggi (Korea)
• Ogi (Japan)

CYP450

• Unknown

Quality

• Warm and moist

Pregnancy

• No reported side effects during pregnancy — but not proven safe either.

Taste

• Sweet

Duration of Use

• Long-term use is acceptable with periodic breaks.

Botanical Information

Astragalus is a large genus containing over 3000 individual species. All species within this genus are either small, herbaceous plants, or mid to large shrubs.

The astragalus genus is a member of the legume family — making it a close relative of peas, peanuts, and soy bean.

The primary species used as medicine is Astragalus membranaceus, which originated from Eastern Asia in mountainous regions of China and Mongolia, but have since spread all over the world.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

Longevity

An extract of a closely-related species, Astragalus membranaceus (synonym A. propinquus), called TA-65 was shown to activate telomerase [3] — which is one of the primary targets for longevity-enhancement medications.

Phytochemistry

Astragalus is rich in saponins (such as cycloastragenol and astragalosides), polysaccharides (astroglucans A-C), flavonoids, phytosterols, volatile oils, asparagine, choline, betaine, gluconic acid, beta-sitosterols, amino acids (including GABA), trace elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, manganese, calcium, potassium, sodium, cobalt, rubidium, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, tin, and silver).

Cautions & Safety

Astragalus is widely considered a safe herb, even over long periods of time or in high doses.

Traditional medical systems (such as TCM) suggest you should avoid using the herb at the acute onset stage of respiratory or sinus infection — focusing instead on using the herb before or after infection takes place. TCM also suggests avoiding the use of astragalus with signs of heat or yin deficiency.

This herb is contraindicated during the later stages of lyme disease.

Astragalus should be avoided in combination with immunosuppressive medications and after organ transplant.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

Recent Blog Posts:

Popular Herbal Monographs

References

Lion's Mane (Hericium erinaceus)

What is Lion's Mane?

Lion's mane is a medicinal wood-rotting fungus with a characteristic growth pattern that resembles the shaggy mane of a lion.

The fungus prefers temperate forests in North America, Europe, and Asia where it thrives on living oak, beech, or conifer trees.

The medicinal benefit of lions mane primarily involve the nervous system. Modern applications use the mushroom for general cognitive health and as a natural nootropic substance.

This mushroom is also eaten as a delicacy — with a flavor similar to lobster when cooked with butter.

In recent years lion's mane has caught the eye of the nootropic community for its ability to up-regulate nerve growth factor.

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How Is Lion's Mane Used?

Lion's mane is mainly used for neurodegenerative disorders like dementia and multiple sclerosis. It's also popular as a nootropic agent for supporting optimal cognitive function long term.

Most of the people using this fungus take it in the form of a powdered capsule or tincture on a daily basis. Like most medicinal mushrooms, the biggest benefit comes from using the herb on a regular basis over long periods of time — rather than short bursts for quick impact of effects.

Traditional Use of Lion’s Mane

Lion’s mane mushrooms have a long history of use in Eastern Asia — including China, Korea, and Japan. Each of these regions used the mushroom for treating neurological disorders, including neurasthenia, and age-related cognitive decline, as well as for general health.

Herb Details: Lion's Mane

Herbal Actions:

• Antibacterial
• Anticancer
• Antidiabetic
• Antioxidant
• Cardioprotective
• Hepatoprotective
• Nervine
• Immunomodulator

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  20-60 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Fruiting Body

Family Name

• Hericiaceae

Distribution

• North America, Europe, Russia, Mountainous regions of Asia

Constituents of Interest

• Hericnones
• Erinacines
• Lactones
• Polysaccharides

Common Names

• Lion's Mane
• Monkey's Head
• Hedgehog Fungus
• Pom Pom
• Houtou (China)
• Shishigashira (China)
• Yamabushitake (Japan)

Pregnancy

• Safe during pregnancy.

Duration of Use

• Long term use acceptable and recommended.

Mycological Information

The Hericiaceae family of fungi are saprophytic (consumes dead wood), yet can be found growing on living trees as well. Many experts believe the mushroom has a mutualistic relationship with the tree for some time — helping it resist disease and infection, but will eventually consume the tree after it dies.

Hericium mushrooms normally grow in cooler, mountainous regions across the globe. It contains a number of species used medicinally and nutritionally.

Hericium spp. has characteristic "tooth" structures on its fruiting body, giving it a hair-like appearance.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

+ Neuroprotective

Lion’s mane offers several different mechanisms to produce its overall neuroprotective benefits:

1. Antioxidant and free-radical scavenging activity [6]
2. Anti-inflammatory activity
3. Nerve-growth factor stimulation (hericium and erinacenes)
4. Reduction of endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependant cell death (dilinoleolyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (DLPE) [7]
5. Attenuation of beta-amyloid-related cognitive decline in animals (dementia model) [8]
6. Enhance mylenation of neurons [9, 10, 11]

In animal studies, lion’s mane has been shown to reduce the severity of damage after a stroke — effectively protecting the sensitive neurons from ischemic damage [6].

Clinical Trials:

Study: Mori et al., 2009 — Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. [5]

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 30 Japanese men and women with mil cognitive impairment found that after 16 weeks, the lion’s mane group had significantly increased cognitive scores. These improvements were noted as early as the 8 week checkup, and continued to improve compared to placebo over the rest of the 16-week trial.

The dose of lion’s mane used in this study was 1 gram of dried lion’s mane taken three times per day.

Unfortunately, 4 weeks after the trial concluded, the scores had significantly decreased — indicating that these effects are not permanent and the mushroom needs to be continued to remain effective.

+ Nootropic

A nootropic is a substance that improves cognition without causing harm. There are a lot of nootropic substances that range from herbs like lion’s mane or rhodiola, to synthetic or prescription drugs like Modafinil or Noopept.

Lion’s mane is thought to be a nootropic through its ability to promote nerve-growth factor (NGF) in the brain. NGF is the most potent growth factor for the cholinergic neurons. it influences everything from the proliferation, differentiation, and survival of neuronal cells in the brain [8, 12].

Reductions in NGF has been considered a major implication in conditions such as depression, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease [12].

There have been a lot of studies looking at the role of lion’s mane and nerve growth factor — most of which have concluded that lion’s mane applications directly lead to an increase in NGF. This research has been done both in vivo and in vitro [13, 14, 15, 16].

This effect is very important. We can give peptides like NGF to people to treat these neurodegeneration, but these peptides rarely cross the blood brain barrier [9]. Therefore, finding alternative ways to boost NGF or other peptides in the brain are of the utmost importance in the treatment, prevention, and management of neurodegenerative disorders.

+ Immunomodulation

Like many other medicinal mushrooms, lion’s mane contains a high concentration of polysaccharides with immunomodulatory effects.

A lot of this study has been done in vitro with dendritic immune cells. These cells serve as the antigen-presenting cells that act as central mediators for the immune response as a whole. They’re responsible for a lot of the tolerance formed by the immune system to help maintain homeostasis.

Studies involving lions mane extracts have shown the fungus can stimulate the maturation of dendritic cells, induce dendritic cell activation, and modulate key T-helper (Th1) immune responses [17].

+ Anti-Inflammatory

Lion’s mane has been shown to influence a variety of inflammatory mediators, including:

Induces IL-1β expression through Nf-kB, NF-IL6, and activator protein 1 (AP-1) [18]

Induces iNOS gene expression to increase nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophages

Inhibits toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-JNK signalling on macrophages [19]

Phytochemistry of Lion’s Mane Mushrooms

Lion’s mane fruiting body and myclelia contain an exceptionally diverse range of unique bioactive substances — including polysaccharides, meroterpenoids (hericinones), cyathane diterpenoids (erinacines), steroids, alkaloids, and lactones.

The most significant constituents in terms of the mushrooms medicinal action are the hericenones and erinacines. Both of these substances have been shown to stimulate nerve growth factor in the central nervous system. This is thought to be the primary mechanism for which the fungus an improve the health and function of the nervous system.

Clinical Applications Of Lion's Mane:

Lion's mane has many uses, but the most well-known is as a neuroprotective, and nootropic benefits. It's useful for neurodegenerative disorders including multipple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Other uses include depression and anxiety, cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal infection, and fatigue.

Cautions & Safety

Lion’s mane is a culinary mushroom that’s been used for both food and medicine by countless individuals over several hundreds of years. There are no expected short-term or long-term side effects from using the fungus.

Throughout the clinical research there have been no reports of serious side effects from using the fungus — including very high-potency extracts and long-term durations of use.

Caution advised with any blood clotting conditions or medications due to possible agonistic interactions — including haemophilia or other bleeding disorder, thrombocytopenia, or post-surgery. Lion’s mane may interact with blood thinners or anti-platelet medications.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated April 2020)

Recent Blog Posts:

References

[1] — Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (lion’s mane) mushroom fruiting bodies and mycelia and their bioactive compounds. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 63(32), 7108-7123.

[2] — Liu, J., Du, C., Wang, Y., & Yu, Z. (2015). Anti-fatigue activities of polysaccharides extracted from Hericium erinaceus. Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 9(2), 483-487.

[3] — Thongbai, B., Rapior, S., Hyde, K. D., Wittstein, K., & Stadler, M. (2015). Hericium erinaceus, an amazing medicinal mushroom. Mycological progress, 14(10), 91.

[4] — Wong, K. H., Naidu, M., David, R. P., Bakar, R., & Sabaratnam, V. (2012). Neuroregenerative potential of lion's mane mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(higher Basidiomycetes), in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 14(5).

[5] — Mori, K., Inatomi, S., Ouchi, K., Azumi, Y., & Tuchida, T. (2009). Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research, 23(3), 367-372.

[6] — Lee, K. F., Chen, J. H., Teng, C. C., Shen, C. H., Hsieh, M. C., Lu, C. C., ... & Huang, W. S. (2014). Protective effects of Hericium erinaceus mycelium and its isolated erinacine A against ischemia-injury-induced neuronal cell death via the inhibition of iNOS/p38 MAPK and nitrotyrosine. International journal of molecular sciences, 15(9), 15073-15089.

[7] — Nagai, K., Chiba, A., Nishino, T., Kubota, T., & Kawagishi, H. (2006). Dilinoleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine from Hericium erinaceum protects against ER stress-dependent Neuro2a cell death via protein kinase C pathway. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry, 17(8), 525-530.

[8] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Moriya, T., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2011). Effects of Hericium erinaceus on amyloid β (25-35) peptide-induced learning and memory deficits in mice. Biomedical Research, 32(1), 67-72.

[9] — Phan, C. W., David, P., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Therapeutic potential of culinary-medicinal mushrooms for the management of neurodegenerative diseases: diversity, metabolite, and mechanism. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 35(3), 355-368.

[10] — Kolotushkina, E. V., Moldavan, M. G., Voronin, K. Y., & Skibo, G. G. (2003). The influence of Hericium erinaceus extract on myelination process in vitro. Fiziol Zh, 49(1), 38-45.

[11] — Moldavan, M., Grygansky, A. P., Kolotushkina, O. V., Kirchhoff, B., Skibo, G. G., & Pedarzani, P. (2007). Neurotropic and trophic action of lion's mane mushroom Hericium erinaceus (Bull.: Fr.) Pers.(Aphyllophoromycetideae) extracts on nerve cells in vitro. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 9(1).

[12] — Chao, M. V., Rajagopal, R., & Lee, F. S. (2006). Neurotrophin signalling in health and disease. Clinical science, 110(2), 167-173.

[13] — Zhang, C. C., Yin, X., Cao, C. Y., Wei, J., Zhang, Q., & Gao, J. M. (2015). Chemical constituents from Hericium erinaceus and their ability to stimulate NGF-mediated neurite outgrowth on PC12 cells. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters, 25(22), 5078-5082.

[14] — Samberkar, S., Gandhi, S., Naidu, M., Wong, K. H., Raman, J., & Sabaratnam, V. (2015). Lion's Mane, Hericium erinaceus and Tiger Milk, Lignosus rhinocerotis (Higher Basidiomycetes) medicinal mushrooms stimulate neurite outgrowth in dissociated cells of brain, spinal cord, and retina: an in vitro study. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(11).

[15] — Lai, P. L., Naidu, M., Sabaratnam, V., Wong, K. H., David, R. P., Kuppusamy, U. R., ... & Malek, S. N. A. (2013). Neurotrophic properties of the Lion's mane medicinal mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Higher Basidiomycetes) from Malaysia. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 15(6).

[16] — Mori, K., Obara, Y., Hirota, M., Azumi, Y., Kinugasa, S., Inatomi, S., & Nakahata, N. (2008). Nerve growth factor-inducing activity of Hericium erinaceus in 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 31(9), 1727-1732.

[17] — Sheu, S. C., Lyu, Y., Lee, M. S., & Cheng, J. H. (2013). Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharides isolated from Hericium erinaceus on dendritic cells. Process biochemistry, 48(9), 1402-1408.

[18] — Son, C. G., Shin, J. W., Cho, J. H., Cho, C. K., Yun, C. H., & Han, S. (2006). Induction of murine interleukin‐1 beta expression by water‐soluble components from Hericium erinaceum 1. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 27(8), 1058-1064.

[19] — Mori, K., Ouchi, K., & Hirasawa, N. (2015). The anti-inflammatory effects of lion's mane culinary-medicinal mushroom, hericium erinaceus (higher basidiomycetes) in a coculture system of 3t3-L1 adipocytes and raw264 macrophages. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 17(7).

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus)

What is Chaga?

Chaga is a slow-growing tree fungus found in cold climates around the world.

This fungus is thought to be one of the best immunomodulators in the natural world. It has a long history of use as medicine, has been the subject of dozens of clinical trials, and is the source product for over 40 pharmaceutical oncology medications.

The fungus itself doesn’t have an appetizing appearance, resembling burnt, diseased growth protruding from birch or alder trees. Once harvested chaga looks more like a rock than a herb.

Despite its appearance, chaga makes a delicous tea resembling the color and flavor of coffee — without the caffeine.

What is Chaga Used For?

Chaga is primarily used as an immune tonic. It’s consumed in capsules, as a strong tea, or in tincture form for supporting and stimulating several different parts of the immune system.

Medicinally, the msot common use for the herb is as an adjunctive cancer treatment, and for compromised immune systems.

Herbalists often use chaga for heart disease, high cholesterol, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and atherosclerosis. This fungus contains an array of antioxidant, immune-boosting, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic compounds that give it a long list of potential uses.

Traditional Uses of Chaga

Chaga was commonly used for conditions such as cancer, ulcers, infection, and heart disease. In Russia and Siberia, chaga was used for general health-promoting effects. People drank chaga tea to prevent illness and infection and promote overall vitality and health.

+ Northern Europe

A lot of the traditional knowledge we have of the fungus today comes from the Khanty people of Siberia (formerly called the Ostyaks). This group had a strong affinity for the fungus which grew abundantly in the birch forests they lived in. They used it as an anthelmintic to kill parasites, to treat tubuculosis (TB), for digestive disorders (gastritis, ulcers, etc), for liver disease, and to prevent or treat heart dissease.

The Khanty people used chaga as a tea as it’s commonly used today — but they also smoked it, or topically by burning it and using the ash to make an antiseptic soap.

In some parts of Russia where chaga consumption was common, the USSR Ministry of Health noticed dramatic reductions in cancer rates among these popularions and attributed it to the consumption of chaga. It was then added to the official Soviet Pharmacopoea in 1955.

+ Asia

Chaga can also be found in the cold regions of Korea, Japan, and China. Here, chaga was used for its benefits on metabolic function, heart function, and for its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

Herb Details: Chaga

Herbal Actions:

• Adaptogen
• Anti-Ulcer
• Anticancer
• Antinflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antiviral
• Immunomodulator

Part Used

Fruiting Body

Family Name

Hymenochaetaceae

Distribution

Northern parts of the world in cluding Canada, Siberia, and Scandanavia. It grows exclusively where birch trees are found.

Constituents of Interest

• 3β-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-al
• Inotodiol
• Lanosterol
• Polysaccharides/beta-glucans

Common Names

• Chaga
• Birch Mushroom
• Cinder Conk
• Champignon de l’Immortalité
• Black Mass
• Birch Canker Polypore

Pregnancy

• There are no reports of toxicity or complications using chaga while pregnant

Duration of Use

• Long-term use of chaga is acceptable

Mycological Information

Chaga grows on various hardwood tree species — including birch (Betula spp.), oaks (Quercus spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), alder (Alnus spp.), ashes (Fagus spp.), and maple (Acer spp.). The most common species of tree you’re likely to find chaga on is birch.

There’s some debate as to whether chaga is parasitic or symbiotic. While it has clear parasitic tendencies, it also offers some benefits to the host tree that detract from the parasitic hypothesis — for example, when the tree becomes wounded, chaga will often form around the injury, protecting it from infection and further damage.

With that said, most of the current literature lists chaga as a parasitic fungi.

The lifecycle of this intriguing fungus is poorly understood. The hard, dark growths we know of as chaga is completely sterile. Only after the tree dies does the chaga mushroom begin to release spores. The fruiting bodies of the chaga form in the bark of the tree. They attract insects which devour the fruiting bodies very quickly. It’s believed the insects then carry the spores to a new host tree. very few chaga fruiting bodies have ever been found in nature.

When chaga spores find a new host they germinate and begin to grow under the bark. The growth is very slow, taking place over 5 to 7 years. Eventually, a black-colored blister begins to appear on the outside of the tree which is the part we use as medicine. Inside the hard black outer layer of the fungus is a soft core with a burnt-orange color.

Cultivation, Harvesting & Preparation

Harvesting chaga is difficult, and should only be done by experienced wild crafters to avoid damaging or killing the host tree. Usually, the wild-crafter will climb up to where the chaga is located, and using a saw or chisel, they’ll cut away chunks of the chaga — being careful not to damage the host tree underneath or remove too much of the fungus.

Preparing chaga can be difficult as well unless you buy it pre-ground or chopped. This fungus is extremely tough and hard to break into smaller pieces to make a tea with.

One of the best ways to prepare chaga for tea is to cut it into smaller pieces with a ban-saw. Smaller chunks can be added to a bag and beaten with a hammer into smaller pieces.

Chaga can then be added to a pot and simmered for 10-15 minutes to produce a dark, mildly bitter tea.

Pharmacology & Medical Research

+ Inflammation

Animal studies on chaga has revealed potent anti-microbial effects on experimental models of colitis [5]. Other animal studies have tested the effects of chaga on broader inflammatory models. One such study found that chaga extracts inhibited key inflammatory messengers such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) [14].

+ Cancer

One of the most well-studied aspects of chaga is its effects on cancer. None of these studies are clinical trials. The majority of research involves in vitro or animal research.

There are hundreds of medicinal compounds in chaga alone, but three in-particular stand out in the literature for their potential anti-cancer effects — betulin, betulinic acid, and inotodiol.

The tetracyclic triterpene called inotodiol has been of particular interest by the scientific community studying the effects of chaga for cancer therapy. This compound has been shown to have direct anti-proliferative activities on lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) [8].

Chaga grown on birch trees also contain some of the medicinal compounds from the host tree — such as betulin or betulinic acid. Both of these compounds have shown promising inhibitory activity on cancer cell lines as well (cutaneous, ovarian, and pulmonary) [9,10,11].

+ Antiviral

Innonotus obliquus was found to inhibit several viruses in vitro:

• Hepatitis C [2]

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) [3]

• Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-I) [13]

+ Immunomodulation

Chaga endo-polysaccharide extract (BELYU1102) was shown to possess powerful immuno-stimulant activity in cell cultures. The extract was shown to increase proliferation of IgM antibodies in B cells, and lead to an increase in nitrite production, IL-6, IL-1, TNF-alpha, and iNOS in macrophages [4]. The endopolysaccharide fraction used in this study did not lead to a proliferation of T cells, the IL-2 expression of Th1 cells, or the IL-4 expression of Th2 cells. This suggests that chaga doesn’t directly kill cancer cells, but may lead to indirect inhibition of cancer growth through immuno-stimulation.

+ Metabolic Disorders

Chaga has a long history of use for metabolic disorders. Animal studies involving overfed, obese mice given chaga extracts had improved insulin sensitivity and reduced adiposity [6].

One animal study found a 31% reduction in blood sugar levels of diabetic mice given a chaga extract compared to the control group after just 3-weeks [12].

The mechanism of action for this effect is thought to be through an increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ transcriptional activities — which is a common therapeutic target for metabolic disorders such as diabetes and dyslipidaemia [7].

Pharmacology & Active Ingredients

Chaga contains hundreds of different compounds — many of which are still being explored for their use as medicine. The fungus is rich in compounds including polysaccharides, triterpenes (inotodiol), polyphenols, and various minerals.

Cautions & Safety Information:

Chaga is widely considered a safe herb, with no expected side effects from high doses, or long-term use.

With that said, anybody taking anti-diabetic or blood-thinner medications should avoid using chaga due to potential antagonistic reactions.

People on immuno-suppresive medications should also avoid this fungus. Chaga has direct immunostimulant activity and could weaken or negate the effects of the medication.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated March 2020)

Recent Blog Posts:

References:

[1] — Lee, S. H., Hwang, H. S., & Yun, J. W. (2009). Antitumor activity of water extract of a mushroom, Inonotus obliquus, against HT‐29 human colon cancer cells. Phytotherapy Research, 23(12), 1784-1789.

[2] — Shibnev, V. A., Mishin, D. V., Garaev, T. M., Finogenova, N. P., Botikov, A. G., & Deryabin, P. G. (2011). Antiviral activity of Inonotus obliquus fungus extract towards infection caused by hepatitis C virus in cell cultures. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine, 151(5), 612.

[3] — Shibnev, V. A., Garaev, T. M., Finogenova, M. P., Kalnina, L. B., & Nosik, D. N. (2015). Antiviral activity of aqueous extracts of the birch fungus Inonotus obliquus on the human immunodeficiency virus. Voprosy virusologii, 60(2), 35-38.

[4] — Kim, Y. O., Han, S. B., Lee, H. W., Ahn, H. J., Yoon, Y. D., Jung, J. K., ... & Shin, C. S. (2005). Immuno-stimulating effect of the endo-polysaccharide produced by submerged culture of Inonotus obliquus. Life Sciences, 77(19), 2438-2456.

[5] — Choi, S. Y., Hur, S. J., An, C. S., Jeon, Y. H., Jeoung, Y. J., Bak, J. P., & Lim, B. O. (2010). Anti-inflammatory effects of Inonotus obliquus in colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate. BioMed Research International, 2010.

[6] — Lee, J. H., & Hyun, C. K. (2014). Insulin‐sensitizing and beneficial lipid‐metabolic effects of the water‐soluble melanin complex extracted from Inonotus obliquus. Phytotherapy research, 28(9), 1320-1328.

[7] — Joo, J. I., Kim, D. H., & Yun, J. W. (2010). Extract of Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) stimulates 3t3‐l1 adipocyte differentiation. Phytotherapy research, 24(11), 1592-1599.

[8] — Zhong, X. H., Wang, L. B., & Sun, D. Z. (2011). Effects of inotodiol extracts from Inonotus obliquus on proliferation cycle and apoptotic gene of human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. Chinese journal of integrative medicine, 17(3), 218-223.

[9] — Dehelean, C. A., Şoica, C., Ledeţi, I., Aluaş, M., Zupko, I., Gǎluşcan, A., ... & Munteanu, M. (2012). Study of the betulin enriched birch bark extracts effects on human carcinoma cells and ear inflammation. Chemistry Central Journal, 6(1), 137.

[10] — Fulda, S. (2008). Betulinic acid for cancer treatment and prevention. International journal of molecular sciences, 9(6), 1096-1107.

[11] — Drag, M., Surowiak, P., Drag-Zalesinska, M., Dietel, M., Lage, H., & Oleksyszyn, J. (2009). Comparision of the cytotoxic effects of birch bark extract, betulin and betulinic acid towards human gastric carcinoma and pancreatic carcinoma drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cell lines. Molecules, 14(4), 1639-1651.

[12] — Sun, J. E., Ao, Z. H., Lu, Z. M., Xu, H. Y., Zhang, X. M., Dou, W. F., & Xu, Z. H. (2008). Antihyperglycemic and antilipidperoxidative effects of dry matter of culture broth of Inonotus obliquus in submerged culture on normal and alloxan-diabetes mice. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 118(1), 7-13.

[13] — Pan, H. H., Yu, X. T., Li, T., Wu, H. L., Jiao, C. W., Cai, M. H., ... & Peng, T. (2013). Aqueous extract from a Chaga medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (higher basidiomyetes), prevents herpes simplex virus entry through inhibition of viral-induced membrane fusion. International journal of medicinal mushrooms, 15(1).

[14] — Park, Y. M., Won, J. H., Kim, Y. H., Choi, J. W., Park, H. J., & Lee, K. T. (2005). In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the methanol extract of Inonotus obliquus. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 101(1-3), 120-128.

Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis)

What is Magnolia?

Magnolia is one of the oldest flowering plants in existence, dating back as far as 95 million years ago. The first angiosperm is thought to have originated 130 million years ago. this is long before bees first appeared. To no surprise then, magnolia have evolved to be pollinated by beetles instead, which have been around for much longer.

Magnolia is a common herb in traditional Chinese medicine for treating Qi stagnation and removing obstructions.

It remains popular for reducing sinus infection and congestion, sinus headaches, asthma, coughs, and catarrh as well as anxiety and heightened cortisol levels.

+ Indications

• Abdominal pain
• Alzheimer's Disease
• Amoebic dysentery
• Anxiety
• Asthma
• Bloating
• Catarrh
• Coughs
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Gastroenteritis
• Menstrual cramps
• Nausea/vomiting
• Poor appetite
• Poor digestion
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Rhinitis
• Sinus infection
• Stress
• Typhoid
• Ulcers
  

+ Contraindications

Avoid use during convalescence.

How Is Magnolia Used?

Magnolia is used for its anxiolytic and digestive effects.It's often combined with Phellodendron for treating both acute and chronic stress.

Magnolia is also commonly used for upper respiratory tract infection, sinus congestion, and catarrh.

Herb Details: Magnolia

Herbal Actions:

• Antioxidant
• Antiallergic
• Antiasthmatic
• Anxiolytic
• Antibacterial
• Antifungal
• Antispasmodic
• Aphrodisiac
• Emmenagogue
• Expectorant

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  15-100 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Bark

Family Name

• Magnoliaceae

Distribution

• Eastern Asia, North America, Central America

Constituents of Interest

• Honokiol
• Magnolol

Common Names

• Magnolia
• Ch'Uan Pu (China)
• Chinese Magnolia
• Choon Pok
• Hou Pu

Quality

• Warm

Pregnancy

• Unknown

Taste

• Bitter

Duration of Use

• Long term use acceptable, but should be monitored by a professional.

Botanical Information

Magnolia officinalis is a medium sized tree, ranging from 5 to 15 m in height. It's deciduous, with purple brown bark.

Magnolia is a member of the Magnoliaceae family of plants. There are 2 subfamilies in this family, including Magnollioideae and Liriodendroideae. The latter of which only includes Liriodendron (Tulip trees). In The Magnoliaceae family there are approximately 219 species, distributed into 17 genera. The vast majority are included in the Magnolia genus, which has about 210 different species.

One interesting note is that it appears magnolia appeared before bees did. The flowers are instead evolved to be pollinated by beetles, due to the extremely tough carpels on the flower. There have also been fossils discovered with plants contained in the Magnoliaceae family as far back as 95 million years ago, making Magnolia one of the oldest remaining angiosperms.

Clinical Applications Of Magnolia:

Magnolia increases the activity of GABA receptors, as well as the muscarinic receptors. This is why Magnolia is useful for both its sedative effect, as well as some mild stimulating effects. While most anxiolytic herbs have a particular effect on the parasympathetic nervous system (through GABAergic effects), Magnolia also increases the activity of the sympathetic nervous system through the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in a similar way to GABA.

Magnolia is especially useful for eliminating nasal congestion, sinus infections, coughs, and catarrh. It's used to improve indigestion and dysentery, though it is not commonly used for bacterial or fungal infections alone.

Magnolia is also used for reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety. It can reduce cortisol levels in stressed individuals, especially in combination with Phellodendron. Its primary actions for this involves GABAergic activities, and have been shown to lower salivary cortisol levels in stressed individuals.

Magnolia should be avoided in those who are chronically fatigued, or who are suffering from convalescence. Traditional Chinese medicine suggests that magnolia should be avoided with any condition involving yin deficiency.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated November 2018)

Recent Blog Posts:

Graviola (Annona muricata)

What is Graviola?

Graviola is a large tropical tree with a rich history of traditional use for conditions like cancer, parasitic infection, insomnia, and dysentery. Modern use remains very similar, mainly focusing on tension headaches and muscle aches, insomnia, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and parasitic infection.

Although the entire plant has been used as medicine by various traditional medical systems, the most common form the plant is available in today is as a leaf extract, and raw leaves intended for tea.

Graviola is gaining in popularity outside worldwide as a general health supplement, blood sugar regulator, and anticancer agent. As a result, it's getting easier to find the herb as time goes on. It is likely this tea will become a staple in Western herbal medicine in the coming years.

Featured Graviola

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How Is Graviola Used?

Graviola is mainly used as an adjunctive treatment for cancer, especially leukemia and other haematological cancers, as well as prostate, colon, and breast cancers.

Graviola is also popular as an anti-diabetic herb, and can be used to reduce hypertension, especially in combination with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Graviola is a potent anti-parasitic, useful for a wide range of different parasitic species, including worms, protozoa, and bacterial parasites.

Traditional Uses of Graviola

+ South America

Graviola originated from South America and/or the Carribean. All parts of the plant were used as medicine for a wide range of conditions.

The most common use of the plant appears to involve cancer treatment and parasitic infection.

The darkest leaves on the plants were used primarily as a sedative or antispasmodic. They were used to treat insomnia, arthritic pains, colic, dysentery, muscle aches, headaches, and diabetes. The leaves were often placed inside a pillow or bedsheets to improve sleep.

In Brazil, the leaves were made into a tea for treating various liver conditions. The oil of the leaves and unripe fruits were used topically for treating neuralgia, and arthritis.

In Peru, the leaves were used to treat excess catarrh, and the bark and root were used for treating diabetes, insomnia, and muscle aches.

In Guyana, the leaves were used as a heart tonic.

+ Southeast Asia

In Southeast Asia, graviola was an important treatment for malaria. It was made into candies, ice cream, and syrups for treating malaria and other parasites.

Herb Details: Graviola

Herbal Actions:

• Anticancer
• Antinflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antispasmodic
• Anticonvulsant
• Antidepressant
• Antidiabetic
• Antibacterial
• Antiarthritic
• Antilithic
• Antimalarial
• Bradycardic
• Digestive stimulant
• Febrifuge
• Hepatoprotective
• Hypotensive
• Sedative
• Vasodilator

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  40-80 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Leaves

Family Name

• Annonaceae

Distribution

• North & South America, The Caribbean, Indonesia, Western Africa, Pacific Islands

Constituents of Interest

• Acetogenins
• Alkaloids (reticulin, coreximine, coclarine and anomurine)
• Essential oils (β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, epi-α-cadinol and α-cadinol)
• Quercetin

Common Names

• Graviola
• Custard Apple Tree
• Soursop
• Annona
• Guanabana (South America)

Quality

• Cool*

Pregnancy

• Unknown

Taste

• Sour

Duration of Use

• Avoid long term use.

Botanical Information

Graviola is a large tree, growing to a height of 10m. It requires high humidity, warm weather, and high annual rainfall in order to thrive. It produces large, edible fruits with an acidic taste (hence the common name soursop).

There are over 130 different genera in the Annonaceae family, and around 2300 different species. The Annona genus itself has about 70 different species. Annona muricata is the most commonly grown worldwide.

Phytochemistry

There are over 100 annonaceous acetogenins in the plant, which are considered to be the primary active constituents of the plant. Structurally these chemicals are derivatives of long chain (C35 or C37) fatty acids. These compounds are cytotoxic against tumour cell lines, and molluscicidal.

Graviola is also rich in alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins, lactones, anthraquinones, tannins, cardiac glycosides, phenols, and phytosterols.

+ Complete Phytochemical Makeup

Annonaceous Acetogenins

The leaves contain annomuricins A and B, gigantetrocin A, annonacin-10-one, muricatetrocins A and B, annonacin, goniothalamicin, muricatocins A and B, annonacin A, (2,4-trans)-isoannonacin, (2,4-cis)-isoannonacin, annomuricin C, muricatocin C, gigantetronenin, annomutacin, (2,4-trans)-10R-annonacin-A-one, (2,4-cis)-10R-annonacin-A-one, annopentocins A, B and C, cis- and trans-annomuricinD-ones, annomuricine, muricapentocin, muricoreacin and murihexocin C and annocatacin A and B.

Alkaloids

Graviola contains reticulin, coreximine, coclarine and anomurine.

Essential Oils

Graviola contains β-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, epi-α-cadinol and α-cadinol.

Clinical Applications Of Graviola:

Graviola is useful for parasitic infection, including protozoan, and helminth parasites. It's used as a mild sedative and antispasmodic, and can be very useful for gastrointestinal inflammation and dysbiotic conditions.

Graviola is also a popular treatment for diabetes by slowing lipid per-oxidation, and restoring islet beta-cells in the pancreas.

It's commonly used as an adjunctive treatment of cancer, especially haematological cancers and colon cancer.

Cautions:

Graviola has been reported to increase symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

Caution advised in combination with other hypoglycaemic drugs due to potential additive effect.

+ Contraindications

• May exacerbate Parkinson's Disease symptoms (Acetogenin content)
• Caution advised in combination with other hypoglycemic drugs due to potential additive effect.
  

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated November 2018)

Recent Blog Posts:

References:

1. Moghadamtousi, S. Z., Fadaeinasab, M., Nikzad, S., Mohan, G., Ali, H. M., & Kadir, H. A. (2015). Annona muricata (Annonaceae): a review of its traditional uses, isolated acetogenins and biological activities. International journal of molecular sciences, 16(7), 15625-15658.

2. De Sousa, O. V., Vieira, G. D. V., De Pinho, J. D. J. R., Yamamoto, C. H., & Alves, M. S. (2010). Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of Annona muricata L. leaves in animal models. International journal of molecular sciences, 11(5), 2067-2078.

3. Torres, M. P., Rachagani, S., Purohit, V., Pandey, P., Joshi, S., Moore, E. D., ... & Batra, S. K. (2012). Graviola: a novel promising natural-derived drug that inhibits tumorigenicity and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through altering cell metabolism. Cancer letters, 323(1), 29-40.

4. Coria-Tellez, A. V., Montalvo-Gónzalez, E., Yahia, E. M., & Obledo-Vázquez, E. N. (2016). Annona muricata: A comprehensive review on its traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and toxicity. Arabian Journal of Chemistry.

5. Gavamukulya, Y., Abou-Elella, F., Wamunyokoli, F., & AEl-Shemy, H. (2014). Phytochemical screening, anti-oxidant activity and in vitro anticancer potential of ethanolic and water leaves extracts of Annona muricata (Graviola). Asian Pacific journal of tropical medicine, 7, S355-S363.

6. Arroyo, J., Martínez, J., Ronceros, G., Palomino, R., Villarreal, A., Bonilla, P., ... & Quino, M. (2009, September). Efecto hipoglicemiante coadyuvante del extracto etanólico de hojas de Annona muricata L (guanábana), en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 bajo tratamiento de glibenclamida. In Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (Vol. 70, No. 3, pp. 163-167). UNMSM. Facultad de Medicina.

7. Adewole, S., & Ojewole, J. (2009). Protective effects of Annona muricata Linn.(Annonaceae) leaf aqueous extract on serum lipid profiles and oxidative stress in hepatocytes of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. African journal of traditional, complementary and alternative medicines, 6(1).

8. Adeyemi, D. O., Komolafe, O. A., Adewole, O. S., Obuotor, E. M., Abiodun, A. A., & Adenowo, T. K. (2010). Histomorphological and morphometric studies of the pancreatic islet cells of diabetic rats treated with extracts of Annona muricata. Folia morphologica, 69(2), 92-100.

9. Adewole, S. O., & Caxton-Martins, E. A. (2006). Morphological changes and hypoglycemic effects of Annona muricata linn.(annonaceae) leaf aqueous extract on pancreatic β-cells of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. African Journal of Biomedical Research, 9(3).

Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)

What is Horse Chestnut?

Horse chestnut is a large tree with a long history of use for treating vascular conditions like varicose veins and other forms of poor vascular tone.

Its common name originated from a belief that horse chestnut seeds were able to relieve panting horses.

What is Horse Chestnut Used For?

Horse chestnut is mainly used for its astringent and anti-inflammatory activity specific to the vascular system. It's also used for fluid accumulation, chest pain, rheumatism, neuralgia, hemorrhoids, and sinus congestion.

Herb Details: Horse Chestnut

Herbal Actions:

• Astringent
• Antinflammatory
• Decongestant
• Antioxidant
• Antirheumatic
• Analgesic
• Expectorant
• Vasoprotective

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  15–35 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Seeds

Family Name

• Sapindaceae

Distribution

• Europe & North America

Constituents of Interest

• Aescin

Common Names

• Horsechestnut
• Conker Tree
• Atkestanesi
• Buckeye
• Eschilo

Duration of Use

• Long term use of horse chestnut is acceptable.

Botanical Information

The Sapindaceae family of plants contains 138 genera, and 1858 different species. The Aesculus genus contains 13-19 different species. Other famous members of the Sapindacea family include maple (Acer spp.), lychee (Litchi chinensis), longan (Dimocarpus longan), Guarana (Paulinia cupana) Ackee (Blighia sapida).

Clinical Applications Of Horse Chestnut:

Horse chestnut is a reliable vascular tonic, suitable for most forms of vascular insufficiency or fluid retention. Varicose veins, spider veins, burst blood vessels, and peripheral vascular and arterial insufficiency are all indicated for use wth horse chestnut internally.

Cautions:

The esculin may be toxic in higher doses. Many horse chestnut extracts will remove this component to improve safety.

Do not use horse chestnut in combination with pregnancy or breastfeeding.

+ Contraindications

• Pregnancy
• Breast feeding
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Anticoagulant medication use
  

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated May 2019)

Recent Blog Posts:

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

What is Lavender?

Lavender is one of the most famous herbs known to man. It's cultivated on a massive scale throughout Europe and North America and is a popular flavoring and aromatic agent for household products.

Medicinally lavender is best known for its ability to promote sleep. It's often sold as aromatherapy, in salves and creams, and incense for this purpose. Lavender is also great for internal use, where it interacts with the GABA system to produce relaxation and sleep.

Lavender essential oil can be used as a topical agent for insect bites, rashes, and infection.

What is Lavender Used For?

Lavender is mainly used in topical applications for rashes, skin irritations, mild infections, sunburn, and insect bites. Internally it's mainly used for anxiety-related conditions, GIT inflammation and discomfort, and insomnia.

Herb Details: Lavender

Herbal Actions:

• Analgesic (mild)
• Antibacterial
• Anti-cancer
• Anticonvulsant
• Antidepressant
• Antifungal
• Antioxidant
• Anxiolytic
• Antiparasitic
• Carminative
• Nervine Relaxant
• Neuroprotective
• Antispasmodic

Weekly Dose

• (1:2 Liquid Extract)
  15–30 mL
• View Dosage Chart

Part Used

• Leaves and flowers

Family Name

• Lamiaceae

Distribution

• Mediterranean and Southern Europe
  Northern and Eastern Africa

Constituents of Interest

• Monoterpene Alcohols
• Athocyanins

Common Names

• Lavender
• Laventelit (Finland)
• English Lavender

Pregnancy

No adverse reactions expected.

Duration of Use

• This herb is generally regarded as safe for long term use.

Botanical Information

Lavender is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). In the genus Lavandula, there are approximately 47 species — most of which are perennials, or small shrubs.

There are a number of lavenders used medicinally

• Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)

• Lavandula stoechas (French Lavender)

• Lavendula dentata (Spanish Lavender)

This list is disputed by many taxonomists, suggesting that French lavender may be Lavandula stoechas or Lavandula dentata, and that Spanish lavender could be either Lavandula dentata, or Lavandula lanata, or Lavandula dentata.

Clinical Applications Of Lavender:

Lavender is useful topically for female conditions including dysmenorrhoea and PMS due to its antispasmodic and analgesic effects. It's also useful topically for its anti-fungal and antibacterial effects. Internally lavender can be used for gastrointestinal complaints, including bloating, flatulence, and colic.

Lavender is a reliable nervine for its GABAergic activity. Additionally it has been shown to reverse the stimulating effects induced by caffeine, and inhibits acetylcholine release.

Cautions:

Lavender has been proven to be a very safe herb with a low incidence of adverse effects.

Avoid use with pharmaceutical sedatives due to the possibility of agonistic synergy.

Author:

Justin Cooke, BHSc

The Sunlight Experiment

(Updated May 2019)

Recent Blog Posts: