Category: Skin Care

By Lee Dobbins

While today there is a boom in herbs and Ayurvedic medicine treating illnesses this way is not new and, as you probably know, the tradition of using holistic methods to treat illness called Ayurvedic medicine has been used for centuries.

Many of the herbs and spices used are ones that we commonly have in our kitchen cabinets today. These herbs, however, didnt originate here and many travel to us from India. Some of these popular ancient Ayurvedic herbs include cinnamon, ginger, Gotu Kola, Boswellia, Gymnema, and East Indian Globe Thistle can now easily be found at your local grocery store or herbal medicine store.

Ginger is a common Ingredient in many dishes but also has many medicinal uses. It is a great digestive aid and can also help with colic, gas and ease heartburn symptoms. In India it Is known as a Sunthi or Adrak and has been used as a tonic which can enhance your vigor as well as an antidepressant.

One of the most common herbs In India, Gotu Kola, is a great herb for healing wounds and addressing skin disorders. It is sensitive in nature and can be used for insomnia and is also said to help lower blood pressure.

Gymnema Sylvestre or Gumar is an herb you will probably be hearing a lot more about as it can help to block sugar. In fact, if you put this herb on your tongue youll notice that it did in the case of sweets. Some theorize that this may be able to help in weight loss as it may reduce a craving for sweets. Use of it in diabetics showed a decrease In blood sugar levels.

You might use cinnamon and your baking but its also been used by Ayurvedic Herbalists for hundreds of years is a stimulant. It also works to sue the toothache pain, makes a great astringent and can help with rheumatism. Cinnamon essential oil has an anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Frankincense or Boswellia can be used as an anti-inflamatory and is also said to be a good expectorant as well as help boost the immune system. This is better important curb for centuries and as you recall, was presented by one of the three wise men.

East India Globe thistle is not an herb you hear too much about but has been used as an Energizer for centuries it is also said to help reduce blood sugar.

There are many other Ayurvedic herbs that have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries and that in our modern culture are regarded as simply spices to be put in food. It seems over the centuries we have lost our knowledge of the effects that the spices have on our body and how they can be used to treat ailments.

Of course if you have a medical condition that you think one of these herbs might help you should consult your doctor so that he or she can review your current medications to see if there would be any adverse effects before you take any herbs. Just because herbs are natural doesnt mean that they dont have side effects and they can interact with your medicines in an adverse manner. Take ginseng for example – this herb thins the blood so If you are on blood tinners and you add ginseng to your diet you could end up making your blot too thin and it wont clot which could become life threatening if you cut yourself. When in doubt, its best to consult a medical professional.

About the Author: Lee Dobbins writes for

Herbs And Home Remedies

where you can read more articles on

herbs and natural remedies

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Submitted by: Misty Rae Cech, ND

Antiviral Activity of Essential Oils

The body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of natural botanicals against a great variety of viruses is growing. Over twenty years ago, German scientists found extracts of more than 100 species of the Lamiaceae family to have antiviral effects. This discovery lead to and increase in the examination of essential oils in Europe for the treatment of viral infections.

Essential oils from many plant families have now been demonstrated to have antiviral properties. Interestingly, different plant families exhibit varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the virus strain. This is due to the particular molecular structures found in each type of oil, which penetrate physical entities to varying degrees (different tissues, cell walls, mucous membranes, etc). The effect on each virus strain depends also on the virus structure (enveloped, non-enveloped, molecular symmetry, etc.)

Certainly, one of the reasons for oils’ effectiveness en vivo is their lipophillic character – essential oils are easily absorbed into mammalian tissues, where they may produce the greatest results. In fact, when studying the anti-viral effects of essential oils, researchers found that normal cells seemed to acquire a special resistance to viral penetration, though the mechanism for this effect is not yet known.

Melissa and the Herpes Virus

One of the Lamiaceae plants studied, Melissa (Melissa officinalis – also known as Lemon Balm), was shown particularly efficacious against the herpes virus (HSV). Doctor Dietrich Wabner, a professor at the Technical University of Munich, has even reported that a one-time application of Melissa oil led to a complete remission of HSV lesions. A cream medication for Herpes outbreaks, who’s active ingredient is an extract of Melissa, is now sold in Germany under the name Lomaherpan. Use of Melissa essential oil itself may be just as effective – the oil can be applied directly to the lesions (or diluted to 10% in carrier if sensitivity is noted) to speed healing. Further occurrences can be prevented by applying oil to the area when sensations signal an eminent outbreak – repeating this protocol 3 or 4 times has been reported to cause total remission in some individuals.

Other essential oils found effective against the Herpes virus include bergamot, eucalyptus, lemongrass and tea tree. Related to HSV is Herpes Zoster or ‘Shingles’, another common virus-mediated skin condition. Application of a 50/50 blend of Ravensara essential oil and Tamanu nut oil has been found extremely effective for reducing symptoms by many people.

Antiviral Components of Oils

The list of essential oils exhibiting antiviral effects is extensive: Melissa (as above), tea tree, juniper, eucalyptus, thyme, palmarosa, lavender, rosemary, clove, laurel, cinnamon bark, anise, rose, lemongrass, geranium, neroli, bergamot, clary sage, and dill. The antiviral effect of an essential oil is due to particular components of the oil – some oils will work just as effectively on a particular infection as another, because they contain similar amounts of a certain component. The components of essential oils showing antiviral activity, and the oils in which they can be found, are as follows (from K. Schnaubelt, Ph.D. – Advanced Aromatherapy, p. 36):

Anethol – found in Anise

Alpha-Sabines – found in Tea Tree, Laurel, and other oils

Beta-Caryophyllene – found in Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme Linalool, and other oils

Carvone – found in Dill

Cinnamic aldehyde – found in Cinnamon Bark

Citral – found in Melissa, Lemongrass and other oils

Citronellol – found in Rose and Geranium

Eugenol – found in Clove

Gamma-Terpinene – Found in Juniper, Eucalyptus, Niaouli, Tea Tree and other oils

Linalol – found in Lavender and Neroli

Linalyl acetate – found in Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot and other oils

Limited In-Vivo Data

Good studies of application of these essential oils in cases of illness are difficult to come by, as infecting people with viruses in the laboratory to subsequently be treated with aromatics would be a difficult process at best. The oils and components above have mostly shown effectivenessin-vitro, though tests also indicate that the anti-viral effect should occur in-vivo as well. As with Melissa, it has been HSV that has been most thoroughly examined, because of the relative simplicity of doing so. But there is nothing particularly special about the herpes virus, and proper oil/pathogen paring should prove as effective.

There are some noted case studies by professional aromatherapists. Of importance in these studies is the oil/symptom relationship. Essential oils from plants of the Myrtaceae family – notably Eucalyptus Radiata and Tea Tree – and Ravensara (also high in Eucalyptol) seem to have helped in cases with respiratory symptoms. For the lower respiratory tract, Hyssop decumbens (from the same plant family as Melissa) has been of interest. Essential oils for such cases may be used either in a diffuser, being taken at regular intervals, or through massage, diluted in a carrier oil.

Conclusion

Because of the difficulty in many cases of illness in determining the exact virus type involved, more specific application cannot be given. Certainly, in cases of HSV, Melissa has been shown effective in a number of studies. For respiratory infections, Eucalyptus and Ravensara have been used with success, and can be safely used as an adjunct to regular medical care. These oils may support one’s recovery on a physiologic level – essential oils also play a part in uplifting emotions, which may also speed healing, or at least improve mental outlook during the healing process. For such instances, one may simply find the essential oil or combination that one finds pleasant, calming, and/or uplifting. PLEASE NOTE: In no cases, however, should self-treatment with essential oils be used in place of professional medical care where signs/symptoms of infectious illness are present.

About the Author: Misty is a naturopath and yoga teacher practicing in Boulder, Colorado, regularly employing aromatherapy with her clients. She is the owner of the Ananda Apothecary,

anandaapothecary.com

, with a collection of essential oil resources at

anandaapothecary.com/essential-oils.html

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