Schisandra is known commonly as the "5 flavor berry". In Chinese medicine, it's used to tone all 5 flavors. In western herbal medicine, it's used just as vaguely, to tone the...
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
What is Manuka?
In New Zealand, where manuka trees grow, the Maori consider male tea tree plants "Kanuka" and the female plants "Manuka". The plant is regarded very highly in this culture as a medicinal species.
The most well-known form of manuka is in manuka honey. This is a honey made by bees feasting primarily on manuka bushes. The honey has an impressive antibacterial profile when made from these plants. This is also reflected in the herb itself, which has been shown to have potent antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral activity.
Most of the medicinal benefits of the plant come from its essential oil content, which can vary a lot depending on the region the plant was grown in.
What is Manuka Used For?
Internally, manuka is used to treat gastrointestinal conditions like diarrhea, colic, inflammatory bowel syndrome, and dysentery. It's also used for urinary tract infection, anxiety, and cold/flu infections.
Manuka is used topically for its antibacterial, and vulnerary actions. It's used to treat slow healing skin and bone injuries, bacterial infections, candida, and eczema. It can be gargled for gingivitis, or for general oral hygiene.
Manuka honey is another common form of the plant. It's become so popular worldwide, it's been standardised by the phenol content. This is expressed as a unique manuka factor (UMF) value set by the Active Manuka Honey Association (AMHA). Anything over UMF 5 is considered strong enough to kill MRSA.
Herb Details: Manuka
Herbal Actions:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antibacterial
- Antifungal
- Antispasmodic
- Anxiolytic
- Diaphoretic
- Diuretic
- Febrifuge
- Sedative
- Astringent
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
20-65 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Leaves, Flowers, Bark
Family Name
- Myrtaceae
Distribution
- New Zealand
Constituents of Interest
- Leptospermone
- Sesquiterpenes
- Tannins
- Citronellal
Common Names
- Manuka
- Tea Tree
- New Zealand Tea Tree
Quality
- Neutral-Warm
Pregnancy
- Unknown
Taste
- Spicy
Duration of Use
- Long term use is acceptable, but should be taken away from food.
Botanical Information
Manuka is a member of the Myrtaceae family of plants. This family contains as many as 133 different genera, and around 3800 different species, many of which are medicinally relevant.
Clinical Applications Of Manuka:
Manuka is useful both internally and topically. It's been shown to be an effective antibacterial agent for various forms of bacteria (including Staphylococcus). It's also an effective anti-fungal and antiviral (including HSV). The antibacterial effects were the most notable, with only some chemotypes of Manuka showing potent anti-fungal benefits.
Manuka can be used for nearly any form of bacterial infections both topically and internally, as well as wounds, ulcers, and gastrointestinal inflammation or infection. It's also useful for skin inflammation like eczema or psoriasis. The muscle relaxant effects make it useful for injuries, muscle tension, colic, and insomnia.
Cautions:
Manuka is widely considered safe and there are no common side effects of the herb.
+ Contraindications
Avoid long-term use alongside food. Tannins may impede mineral absorption.
Recent Blog Posts:
Featured
Chickweed (Stellaria medica)
What is Chickweed?
Chickweed is a small herbaceous plant found growing throughout North America and Europe. It has naturalized on nearly every continent and thrives in colder climates.
Although there is not much modern research involving chickweed, it has a rich history in traditional medicine.
Chickweed was used internally for lung infections and irritations, and topically for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
The herb was mainly used as a succas, or consumed whole in fresh form.
How Is Chickweed Used?
Chickweed is used internally for lung conditions, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, or asthma. Topically, it's made into creams and salves for skin irritations. This can include psoriasis, eczema, skin ulcers, or rashes. It's also consumed as a food in many Northern climates where it grows naturally.
Herb Details: Chickweed
Herbal Actions:
- Demulcent
- Refrigerant
- Emollient
- Antibacterial
- Antitussive
- Expectorant
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
20-40 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Aerial Parts
Family Name
- Caryophyllaceae
Distribution
- Found on every continent on earth except Antarctica
Constituents of Interest
- Carotenoids
- Linalool
- Caryophyllene
- Borneol
Common Names
- Chickweed
- Starweed
- Alsine Media
- Passerina
- Mouse Ear Star
- Satinflower
- Starwort
- Stellaria
- Winterweed
CYP450
- Unknown
Quality
- Cold
Pregnancy
- No adverse effects expected.
Taste
- Unknown
Duration of Use
- May be used long term.
Botanical Information
Chickweed is known for its creeping nature, and ability to grow in very cold weather. It's even been found growing underneath the snow in mountainous regions of North America.
Chickweed is a member of the Caryophyllaceae family, which contains as many as 2625 species distributed into 81 genera.
The Stellaria genera itself contains between 90 and 120 different species.
Clinical Applications Of Chickweed
There is little research on chickweed — however, it was shown to have high levels of carotenoids and a handful of antibacterial compounds like caryophyllene, menthol, and linalool.
Chickweed also contains saponins — which are thought to have a soothing effect on the skin. This is likely the mechanisms behind chickweeds popularity as an ointment for skin inflammation and infection.
For this application, chickweed is generally used as a fresh succas or made into salves, oils, and creams.
The traditional use for lung conditions is thought to be due to the saponin content, which is well known to have mucus membrane irritant effects, promoting the excretion of mucus.
+ Contraindications
- Skin irritation and allergies may occur from topical application.
Recent Blog Posts:
Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)
Iris (Iris versicolor)
What is Iris?
Iris is a misunderstood herb in many circles. It contains a set of constituents that are known to trigger nausea and vomiting — however, somewhat ironically, iris is also considered useful for treating nausea.
This herb has mild laxative qualities — thought to be due to a combination between its potent bitter constituents stimulating the flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder, and an ability to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. It's especially active on the liver, where it's used to treat poor digestion, liver dysfunction, and to treat skin conditions.
Other species sometimes used includes Iris caroliniana & Iris virginica.
What is Iris Used For?
Iris is used to treat skin conditions through the liver by improving elimination pathways and preventing excessive elimination and irritation through the skin. It's useful for acne, psoriasis, eczema, and rashes.
Other common uses of iris is for urinary tract infection, hypothyroidism, lymphadenopathy, and menstrual irregularities.
+ Mechanisms
- Thought to stimulate parasympathetic nervous system
- Iridin thought to induce laxative action due to irritating properties on mucus membranes
Herb Details: Iris
Herbal Actions:
- Bitter
- Pancreatic trophorestorative
- Alterative
- Antinflammatory
- Astringent
- Lymphatic
- Hepatic
- Laxative (mild)
- Diuretic
- Choleretic
- Cholagogue
Weekly Dose
- (1:2 Liquid Extract)
20–40 mL - View Dosage Chart
Part Used
- Root/Rhizomee
Family Name
- Iridaceae
Distribution
- North America
Constituents of Interest
- Furfural
- Irisin
- Salicylic Acid
- Oleo-resin, beta-sitosterols
- Beta-sitosterols
Common Names
- Iris
- Blue Flag
- Sweet Flag
- Poison Flag
- Harlequin Blueflag
Pregnancy
Avoid using iris while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Duration of Use
- Avoid long-term use in therapeutic doses.
Botanical Info:
Iris is native to North America and is common around marshes, streams, and lakes.
The Iridaceae family is named after the irises and refers to the rainbow due to the many colors of iris flowers. This family contains 66 different genera and approximately 2244 different species. Some of the other famous members of this family include Crocus spp. and Gladioli spp.
Clinical Applications of Iris
Iris has recently seen a peak in interest in the past few years, however, is still not a commonly used herb due to the presence of significant side effects. Iris is contraindicated in anything but small doses due to the mucous membrane irritant and nauseating side effects.
In small doses iris is useful for stimulating bile secretion, promoting movement in the bowels, stimulating the pancreas, and treating skin conditions arising from liver congestion.
Cautions:
Some of the constituents in fresh iris root can cause a burning sensation in the mouth and throat along with diarrhea and abdominal burning. It's considered an emetic, and mucus membrane irritant in higher doses. Use cautiously and only in smaller doses.
+ Contraindications
- Avoid high doses
- Mucus membrane irritation (IBS, IBD, etc)
- Diarrhea
Recent Blog Posts:
Featured
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, we’re getting a lot of questions on what the potential role of herbal medicine is during the outbreak. Learn how the virus works and how to limit your chances of transmission.