Tonic Herbs

I have been mostly talking about herbs that are easily found, and have medicinal uses. My favorite herbs for my own use are the tonic herbs. I use the term "tonic" to mean a subset of the medicinal herbs (meaning all tonic herbs can be used as medicinal herbs, but not all medicinal herbs can be used as tonics,) which help increase or fortify the body's natural energies or processes, rather than focussing on relieving symptoms.

In Chinese medicine, they also consider certain herbs to be in a class above all others, and refer to them as Superior or Celestial Tonics. Ginseng is probably the tonic herb most people are familiar with, and it is one of the Superior Tonics.

There are different types of Ginsengs, the one ususally referred to simply the term "ginseng" is Panax Ginseng, sometimes called Oriental ginseng, or Korean Ginseng, or Chinese ginseng. They are all Panax Ginseng, and different processing methods produce red ginseng and white ginseng. (The term "Panax" is related to the word "panacea", and refers to the reputation ginseng has of being good for anything.)

Ginseng can produce symptoms called "false fire" symptoms, if your energy doesn't flow well, and can include feelings of heat, or tensinon in the shoulders and neck, or restlessness, so it's not one that I recommend for everyone.

Two other ginsengs are Siberian Ginseng, and American Ginseng.

Siberian Ginseng actually is a term used to refer to three separate herbs. Eleutherococcus Senticosus is the plant which has been most researched of the three, and may be the single most researched herb in the world. Soviet Cosmonauts and Athletes used to use this herb regularly, and it is good to improve endurance and stamina.

Siberian Ginseng belongs to a class of herbal remedies called adaptogens, which help the body adapt to stressors of any type. Some research even demonstrated that the greater the stress, the greater the effect from Siberian Ginseng. It has also been used as a tonic for the elderly.

I recommend Siberian Ginseng more frequently than Panax Ginseng, it tends to produce an improvement in energy levels while producing less of the tension or restlessness.

American Ginseng is the other major type of ginseng (there is also Prince Ginseng and Pseudo Ginseng, but that may be for another post) which I recommend to my clients. It is less drying than the Panax Ginseng, and has a cooler energy.

American Ginseng at one time grew wild all over the east coast, and was a major export of the early colonies. (Daniel Boone was actually a major American Ginseng trader.) Unfortunately, overharvesting has made it much more scarce in the wild.

Siberian Ginseng and American Ginseng are a good starting point to learning about tonic herbalism, and if your condition warrants, so is Panax Ginseng.


The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations

A Few More Herbal Remedies That Help With Sugar Metabolism

I talked about Cinnamon yesterday, and mentioned that it was being researched to help treat diabetes, because it seems to help the body metabolize blood sugar. There are several other herbal remedies that have been used traditionally to help with diabetes-like symptoms

Fenugreek Seed has been used medicinally for at least 2000 years, and is recommended in all conditions involving excess mucus, or lung congestion. It has also been used for both diabetes and gout. Recent research seems to confirm the ability of fenugreek to stabilize blood sugar levels, and that it seems to help cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Fenugreek is a traditional ingredient in many curry powders, and has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicines for centuries.

Another herb which is gaining a lot of attention as a natural treatment for blood sugar problems and diabetes is Gymnema Sylvestre, an Ayurvedic herb more commonly called Gurmar, which I have read translates as sugar destroyer. It earned this name because if you chew the leaves of this plant, it decreases your ability to taste sugar.

Recent research shows that it helps improve your body’s ability to control sugar levels, and it seems to increase the effectiveness of insulin.

I am not suggesting that if you want to continue consuming vast quantities of white sugar, all you have to do is add Cinnamon, Fenugreek, and Gymnema Sylvestre to your diet and everything will be fine. I think it is a good idea to limit white sugar and white flour in your diet, and doing so is a good first step in improving your health.

And I am not saying that if you are diabetic and taking insulin, you should take these herbs and stop taking insulin; as always, if you are being treated for any medical condition, speak to your doctor before you begin using herbal remedies.

But if you are looking for natural ways to help stabilize blood sugar, these herbs are worth a try.

The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations

What better to follow an apple than cinnamon?

Yesterday, I talked about using apples as natural remedy. I think the perfect herbal remedy to follow apples is cinnamon.

Cinnamon is another herbal remedy that has been in use for centuries.

Cinnamon is a good herbal remedy to use where warming is a desired therapeutic effect, and is said to improve circulation, and dilate blood vessels.

Large doses can be toxic, and cinnamon should not be used during pregnancy.

Cinnamon is another herb commonly used for digestive problems, and is said to benefit the digestive system. Cinnamon can be a helpful herbal remedy for flatulence, and is traditionally used for chronic diarrhea; it also helps ease nausea and vomiting.

Traditionally, cinnamon is said to raise vitality, warm and stimulate vital functions, it is also used for menstrual pain, which feels better with heat.
Avoid using cinnamon if you already feel hot or excessively dry.

Cinnamon has also become one of the most researched herbal remedies for the treatment of diabetes, with several companies trying to develop a drug they can patent by processing cinnamon. Recent research seems to indicate that simply by using cinnamon regularly, you can see an improvement in your blood glucose levels, as well as total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Adding one half to one teaspoon to morning cereal seems to be sufficient. (Again, if you are being treated by a doctor for diabetes, or any other medical condition, please check with your doctor before taking any herbal remedies.)

The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations

An Apple A Day?

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. I think everyone has heard this statement dozens, if not thousands of times, so often that we dismiss it as an old wives tale.

Apples and apple juice have been used as natural remedies in many herbal traditions for centuries. Eating an apple after dinner is said to help digestion.

In ancient Rome, pectin derived from apples and blackberries was used to treat diarrhea. Apples actually can help with both diarrhea and constipation. Pectin is a soluble fiber with many beneficial functions in the body. It acts as a laxative stool softener, so is very useful in treating constipation, and apples are very safe, even for children and the elderly, (For children, or even someone who is very weak, applesauce may be the best choice.) Pectin is actually one of the major ingredients in some commercial laxatives and stool softeners.

Pectin also seems to bind with certain carcinogens (substances that may cause cancer) in the colon, speeding their elimination from the body. Apple pectin also seems to help control blood sugar levels.

Pectin seems to bind with cholesterol in the intestines, reducing the amount absorbed from food, and helping to eliminate it through the colon.

Apple juice has been used to help treat red skin rashes, and seems to have a cooling effect. In Ayurvedic medicine (traditional Indian medicine, one of the oldest medical systems in the world) apple juice is used for postnasal drip, and sinus problems.

Apples also contain polyphenols, which may help prevent cell damage.

The material presented in this blog is for informational use only and should in no way be used as a substitute for needed medical treatment. I am not a doctor, I do not diagnose or treat disease. If you need medical care, please consult the appropriate medical professional. And please discuss with your doctor if you are taking or planning to take any herbal preparations