Many people are interested in using plants in healing human illnesses. One way to organize the incredible amount of information and possibilities offered to us by the natural world is by organizing the plants in groups based on their primary action. The action of the plant is the physiological effect of the plant.

In this two-part article, we will address these. Adaptogens, Alteratives, Anti-catarrhal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, and Anti-Spasmodic are in part one. Astringents, Bitters, Calmative, Female reproductive, Lung, Liver, Hypnotic, Nervines, and Vulneraries are in part two. Each of these are defined and the primary herbs associated with them are discussed.

Adaptogens   Ginseng Adaptogens are herbs that increase resistance and resilience to stress, enabling the body to avert various problems and avoid collapse by adapting to external pressures. The adaptogens work through some kind of biochemical support of the adrenal glands. Some of the best known of the adaptigens are the ginsengs. There is American Ginseng, Panax quiquinfolia, and there are the oriental ones of which there are various species the commonest being Panax ginseng. These are plants which help the body cope and deal with stress and can be used in a wide range of situations where stress is impacting a person's health whether it be from psychological or work stress or the stress of surgery or illness. Alteratives      Red Clover       Sweet Violet       Blue Flag

Alteratives are herbs that gradually restore the proper functioning of the body. These are very important herbs in the holistic treatment and prevention of illness emphasizing wellness at all times. They used to be known as the blood cleansers, but this is not really a very useful concept today. We have many very common alteratives which should be far more widely used. It can do far more than some of the more specific actions that we will mention later on.

The first of these herbs to look at, and from the European perspective probably the most important one, is Nettles, Urtica dioica. This is also an astringent, it's a diuretic and in some cases it can also lower blood pressure. One of the classic European spring tonics, its used extensively throughout the world for treating systemic problems such as osteo-arthritis, ecxema, psoriasis, especially childhood ecxema. It can also be used in the treatment of hay fever and, in general, can help all cases where herbs are being used to facilitate wellness.

Cleavers, Galium aparine, is another one of the European spring tonics and has the added benefit to its alterative properties of being a specific remedy for the lymphatic system and can be used wherever anybody has swollen lymph nodes due to mild infection or equivalent problems. It can also be used in similar ways to Nettles for the systemic problems such as exema, arthritis and so on.

Red clover, Trifolium pratense, is an excellent alterative for children, whether they have ecxema or simply a spring tonic or equivalent is required. It has the added benefit of being very gently relaxing in the case of children, but also relaxing in the case of adults who are sensitive to herbs. This makes quite a useful remedy for children, say with ecxema who are scratching themselves a lot because of the itching, and the Red Clover in addition to helping the ecxema, is going to ease some of the itching sensation. It has a traditional reputation as being valuable in the treatment of skin cancer as well.

Sweet Violet, Viola odorata, has a really wonderful aroma. Its an alterative remedy that is very useful with children and adults and has the added benefit of being an expectorant making it ideal for treatments in children who have coughs, tendencies to sore throats, maybe runny noses, and also a general run down condition.

Yellow Dock, Rumex crispus, is an alterative used in more chronic conditions, especially skin conditions such as psoriasis. It has a mild stimulating effect on the liver, an effect known as the cholagogue effect, stimulating the production and release of bile. This makes Yellow Dock a very safe and effective laxative in chronic constipation.

Burdock, Arctium lappa, is one of the most valuable alteratives that we have in the herbat materia medica. A safe gentle remedy that can be very effective in treating chronic skin conditions which are dry and scaly, such as psoriasis. It can also be used in rheumatic osteoarthrytic problems especially those associated with skin conditions. There is a bit of stimulation of the digestive process through drinking Burdock root tea or having the tincture. Burdock's role in treating immune insufficiency has been confirmed recently by pharmacological research, confirming that this herb is a very valuable remedy.

Blue Flag, Iris versicolor, a very beautiful plant growing in many peoples' gardens, is quite a strong alterative, not to be used for general everyday alterative needs. It should be saved for chronic unresponsive conditions, but where indicated, it can be very effective in the treatment of chronic skin problems, rheumatic problems, and just general lethargic metabolism.

Anti-catarrhal remedies are herbs that enable the body to get rid of excess mucus, excess phlegm, whether it be from the lungs, the sinuses, or other parts of the body. These herbs can be very useful in the treatment of sinusitis for example.

A safe and effective herb is Golden Rod. Golden Rod is Solidago virgaurea. It may be used safely in any case of acute or chronic upper respiratory catarrh, sinusitis, the common cold, influenza, and can be combined very safely with a range of other herbs to produce a more well rounded treatment.

The Elder tree, Sambucus nigra, is a medicine chest in itself. The leaves are used for bruises, sprains, wounds, chilblains, in other words, its vulnerary. It has been reported that Elder leaves may be useful in an ointment for tumors. Elder flowers are ideal for treatment of colds and influenza because of its Anti-catarrhal effects, and also its ability to lower fevers. They are indicated in any Anti-catarrhal inflammation of the upper respiratory tract such as hay fever, sinusitis. Catarrhal deafness also may respond to Elder flowers. Elder berries have similar properties to the flowers with the additional usefulness in rheumatism.

Eyebright, Euphrasia [aphisianilus], is an Anti-catarrhal, astringent, anti-inflammatory. Its a remedy that can be used quite safely in most inflammatory conditions of the mucus membranes, especially when these are effecting the nasal sinuses and the eyes. It is best known for its use in conditions of the eye where its helpful in acute and chronic inflammations, stinging, and weeping eyes, as well as over sensitivity to light. Used as a compress externally in conjunction with internal use, its a valuable treatment for conjunctivitis and [biliferitis].

Anti-inflammatory remedies are herbs that lower the response of inflammation in the cells. This can be done in a number of different ways.

The best known herbal anti-inflammatories are those which contain volatile oils, for example, Chamomile, Matricaria recutita. This very special plant has a relaxing effect on the nervous system. It's a relaxing nervine. It reduces muscle spasms, especially in the digestive system which means that it will lessen colic and indigestion pain. It is known as a calmative because it eases the tendency to flatulence. It is an anti-inflammatory. It is a mild anti-microbial, in other words, the oils will kill some sorts of pathogenic micro-organisms. It is a wound healer, a vulnerary, and in some subspecies, it is mildly bitter. Chamomile gently, but effectively, can achieve a whole range of different positive results, from relaxing teething children, reducing the pain and discomfort in the mouth, helping them to sleep at night if the tea is put into the bath water, right through to helping adults with indigestion, and so on. A very very wonderful remedy.

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis, has similar effects to Chamomile. It is a calmative, relaxing nervine, anti-spasmodic, mildly anti-depressive, anti-microbial and a liver remedy.

Peppermint, Mentha piperita, is also an anti-inflammatory that works primarily through its volatile oil contact. But this is an oil that is quite different from Chamomile or Aniseed or Lemon Balm because it contains menthol, a cooling settling oil. The plant is calmative, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, a diaphoretic, and anti-emetic, a nervine, an anti-microbial, and on the skin it can be mildly analgesic.

Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria, is the best example of a herb rich in natural salicylates. These are the chemicals that aspirin was originally developed from. Meadowsweet is a safe anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory medicine that can be drunk even by people who have a tendency to gastritis or stomach ulcers. There are other things in the herb which counteract the salicylate tendency to aggravating such conditions.

Willow bark is the bark of any of a number of different willow trees that belong to the Salix genus. This is an effective anti-inflammatory and a mild pain relieving remedy, used primarily in fevers, aches and pains of sports injuries, and mild rheumatic conditions.

The leaves and bark of the Birch tree, in this case the Betula [alba] are also used as anti-inflammatory remedies, as tonic, and mild diuretics.

The fruit of the Horse chestnut tree, Aesculus hipposcastanum, is an anti-inflammatory, astringent, that is used primarily for conditions of the small blood vessels, for example varicose veins, broken capillaries in the skin, and so on. A very useful remedy when used topically.

Bogbean, also known as buck bean, Menyanthes trifoliata, is used in chronic inflammatory conditions such as osteo-arthritis, and to a lesser extent, rheumatoid arthritis also digestive remedy, it stimulates the liver and helps the whole of the digestive process.

Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa, is an anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic liver remedy. Even though it is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a source of the raw material for making the contraceptive pill from, in the human body, the [sapid] constituents are not used to make reproductive hormones. The body uses this building blocks to facilitate the production of anti-inflammatory hormones, making Wild Yam very useful in the treatment of auto-immune disease conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

Anti-microbial herbs help the body throw off infection, either through directly killing the pathogen or by helping the body's immune system do the work itself.

One of the best known is Echinacea. There are a number of different species which are used medicinally, so we can talk about Echinacea [purpurea], Echinacea [angastofolia], Echinacea [polada]. This is an anti-microbial remedy that is also known as an immunomodulator, in that it facilitates the immune system responding more effectively to certain pathogenic organisms. It also has a reputation as an alterative and an anti-catarrhal remedy.

Garlic, the bulb of Allium sativum, is an effective anti-microbial, diaphoretic, cholagogue, hypotensive, and anti-spasmodic. The three main uses for garlic are in the treatment of infection, in treating a range of cardiovascular conditions, from raised blood pressure to elevated cholesterol levels, and thirdly, in the traditional treatment of cancer.

The leaves of the Bearberry, also known as uva-ursi, whose Latin name is Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, are an effective diuretics, anti-microbial when there is an infection in the urinary system, making this the herb of choice for the treatment of cystitis and similar problems.

Juniper berries, Juniperus communis, are a much more potent anti-microbial for the urinary system. Their use should be reserved for cases where the patient is unresponsive to uva-ursi and definitely avoided in anyone who has a history of kidney disease or kidney damage.

Golden Seal, Hydrastis canadensis, is a bitter, hepatic, alterative, anti-catarrhal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, astringent, that is also laxative, expectorant, emmenagogue, and oxytocic. This is an herb that has an incredible reputation as almost being a cure-all panacea. Golden Seal is not a cure all. It is a herb that, if used in excess, can be potentially damaging to the liver, but used in moderation, its wonderful medicine.

Anti-spasmodic ease muscle cramps, they alleviate muscular tension, and as many are also nervines, they can ease psychological tension as well.

Cramp Bark, Viburnum opulus, is one of the most useful of the anti-spasmodic herbs that we have. It lowers blood pressure gently, it is anti-inflammatory and can be used in any situation where sports injuries or sprains have led to very tight muscles. It also can work quite effectively in easing the cramping of ovarian problems and menstrual problems.

Black Haw, Viburnum prunifolium, is an anti-spasmodic, hypertensive nervine. It is similar to Cramp Bark in many respects, but has a more marked effect on alleviating cramping in the uterus and womb.

Grindelia, also known as Gumweed, one of many species of the genus Grindelia, is an anti-spasmodic that works especially well on the tissue of the lungs and respiratory system. Its main use is in the treatment of asthma and other equivalent bronchial conditions.

Lobelia, Lobelia, inflata, is an anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, expectorant, somatic nervine. It has a generally relaxing effect on the central nervous system, but primarily helps ease the tightness of the spasms of asthma.

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