20 Things About Evening Primrose - Oenothera biennis - Sun Drops

• Native to North America

• Flowers open and release scent in the evenings and are pollinated by moths

• Parts used: root, root bark, leaf, flower, seed, stem

• Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic (muscle tension, spasms, etc), astringent, diuretic, sedative  

Uses: 

• Native Americans used poultices for bruises and wounds, ingested for bowel pains, weight loss, and muscle strength

• Whooping cough, asthma, hiccups, COPD

• Gastrointestinal uses include IBS, IBD, colitis, poor digestion, vomiting, diverticulitis, chronic indigestion, chronic diarrhea

• Blood or mucus in urine, bladder spasms, nervous bladder

• Antidepressant - depression when toxins and waste have accumulated in the digestive tract

• Sluggish Liver and Liver inflammation

• Nervous exhaustion and anxiety

• Seeds were recommended as a coffee substitute in wartime

Evening Primrose Seed Oil:

• Yin tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine 

• Contains Gamma lipoic acid (GLA) -essential fatty acids that help balance hormones and fight inflammation and Linolenic acid - contains fatty acids, supports Heart health, improves insulin sensitivity and Blood pressure

• Hypertension, anxiety, and fatigue

• Women: PMS, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, sore breasts, fibrocystic breasts

• Skin: Burns, atopic dermatitis (especially itching), psoriasis, eczema, and acne

• Anti-cancer therapy - In studies, the oil has shown antiproliferative effects against breast, hepatic, prostate, and leukemia cancer cell lines

• Benefits seen through clinical trials include diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, mastalgia, PMS, osteoporosis, and dementia.  Mixed results in trials for atopic eczema and dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, diabetic lipid metabolism, and alcoholism. 

• Osteoporosis: Combined with fish oil a trial confirmed osteocalcin levels rose (a bone formation marker) and alkaline phosphatase levels dropped (indicates an increase in bone mineral density)

     ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6003444;ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116039;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22414479;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28555835;pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1185351; nccih.nih.gov/health/evening-primrose-oil; ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116039/#:~:text=Evening%20primrose

• Granica, S.;  ´nska, M.E.; Piwowarski, J.P.; Ziaja, M.; Kiss, A.K. Chemical composition, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity of extracts prepared from aerial parts of Oenothera biennis L. and Oenothera paradoxa Hudziok obtained after seeds cultivation. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2013, 61, 801–810

• The Worst Weeds Are Your Best Medicine– The Common and Weedy Plant Materia Medica ©2005 Revised 2018 David Winston, RH (AHG) 

• Christopher Hobbs - Herbal prescriber database

• Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy - Modern Herbal Medicine Simon Mills, Kerry Bone

• Medical Herbalism - The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine David Hoffman

• The Way of Herbs - Michael Tierra

• The Admirable Secrets of Herbs, Roots & Barks - Matthew Wood

Rose Oxymel

In celebration of the New Year, I am sharing a recipe for rose oxymel. This was my first go at oxymels and I’ve got to say it was delicious. I enjoyed it in lemonade but loved it as a salad dressing with a little olive oil. Note health benefits below the recipe.

Rose Oxymel 

Fill a  mason jar ⅓-½  full with dried organic rose petals/rosebuds

Fill  the jar ⅔ full (more or less depending on your preferred taste) with organic raw apple cider vinegar

Fill rest of the way with raw honey (use organic glycerin or coconut nectar to make it vegan)

I added a little crushed cardamom and hawthorn berries 

Cover with a plastic lid and shake (apple cider vinegar will corrode metal)

Let sit for 2 weeks in a warm place shaking daily

Strain through a cheesecloth

Store in a cool place

Dosage:  1 tablespoon daily as a health tonic

• Heart tonic, poor digestion, worry, nervousness, chest or abdominal pain and bloat, PMS

• Try adding it to cocktails, use as a dressing or marinade, add to lemonade

3 Herbs that Clear Heat and Cool the Blood

Sheng Di Huang - Raw Rehmannia- Rehmannia Glutinosa 

• The unprepared or raw root is Cold in nature vs the prepared root which is Warm in nature. 

• Used for fevers, thirst, mouth sores, and hemorrhaging. 

• Lack of Yin fluids with dry mouth, throat pain, afternoon fevers and feelings of Heat, and dry constipation.

• Also used in formulas to treat conditions such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and eczema.

Mu Dan Pi - Moutan Peony root bark - Paeonia Suffruticosa 

• Used in Chinese medicine for gynecological issues, such as amenorrhea, scanty periods, painful periods, muscle spasms, and enhancing blood flow. 

• Commonly used when there is Heat caused by deficiency such as menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. 

• Also used for headaches, flank, and eye pain due to Liver Fire. 

Oregon Grape root- Berberis repens, Mahonia repens

• Liver tonic that stimulates bile flow  = increases digestion and absorption by breaking down fats into fatty acids. 

• Cools the Liver and is often used for toxic Liver issues from alcohol or drugs (hepatitis, jaundice, enlarged Liver). 

• Antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal making it useful for IBS, UTIs, yeast infections, acne, rosacea, cysts, dermatitis, styes, strep and staph infections, intestinal viruses, and inflamed gums.

• Oregon Grape root and Barberry are often interchanged due to their similarities.

3 Herbs for Blood Stagnation

“Always treat a bruise because a bruise can turn to Bad Blood (Blood Stagnation) and Bad Blood can turn to cancer” - Matt Wood

All Blood Movers enter the Liver and/or Heart channels - which makes sense -  the Liver stores the Blood and the Heart pumps the Blood. Many also enter the Spleen channel which also makes sense, according to TCM the Spleen transforms food and drink into Blood and Qi (energy) and then transports it throughout the body. This is not to say that there aren’t other channels entered by different Blood moving herbs, as an example I included one that also enters the Lung and Large Intestine channels.

Mo Yao - Myrrh - Commiphora Molmol

• A resin used internally and externally

• Blood stasis affecting the uterus for uterine tumors, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain, and abdominal masses with pain 

• Pain from trauma, strikes and blows, falls and injuries - used as a liniment in a hit or jow formula massaged into a bruise or sore muscle

• Increases circulation throughout the body making it is useful for angina & joint pain

• Promotes healing of chronic sores due to its ability to generate flesh

• Additionally, an effective disinfectant, anti-inflammatory and astringent commonly used in cases of toothaches, gingivitis, bronchitis, and as a gargle for strep throat and laryngitis

• Effective for leaky gut, colitis, ileitis, gastritis, and gastric ulcers

Here is an article on myrrh & frankincense. http://www.itmonline.org/arts/myrrh.htm They are often used in combination for their synergistic strength.  Myrrh is a stronger Blood mover & breaks up Blood stasis whereas frankincense circulates Blood & is better at moving Qi

Chuan Xiong - Szechuan lovage root - Ligusticum wallichii

• Blood mover in arguably the most popular TCM Blood tonic formula - Si Wu Tang 

• Invigorates Blood and promotes the movement of Qi for any Blood stasis pattern

• Chest, flank and rib area pain

• Important herb in gynecology used for amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, difficult labor or retained lochia, and menstrual cramps

• Its acrid flavor disperses both Qi stagnation and Wind in cases of spasms, headaches, dizziness,  Bi syndrome, as well as skin disorders

Tao Ren - Peach Seed Kernel - Prunus persica

• Toxic in doses of over 30 kernels for adults and 5-10 kernels for children

• Breaks up Blood stasis and has an affinity for the lower pelvic cavity due to its bitter taste and heavy nature making it useful for menstrual disorders such as endometriosis, amenorrhea, and postpartum abdominal pain

• Also enters the Lung and Large Intestine channels -with its moistening quality it is effective for constipation, moistening the skin, coughs, wheezing as well as Lung and Intestinal abscesses

As always before adding in any new herb speak with your Dr. or a qualified herbalist to make sure it is the right herb for you.

TCM Blood Patterns of Disharmony

Today’s chart is on Blood disharmonies. Some general symptoms are listed for each as well as organs that may be affected, possible pulses, helpful foods and other recommendations.

It is important to look at each individual as a whole rather than just a few symptoms. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms and would like to learn more please reach me through the ”Contact” tab to set up a free 15-minute call .

9 Things to Know About Sage - Garden Sage - Salvia Officinalis

• Native to the Mediterranean with over 900 species it belongs to the mint family of herbs.

• Contains many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds including cineole, camphor, camphene, borneol, and bornyl acetate.

• Contains thujone which has antiseptic and antibiotic properties that helps the body fight off viruses and bacteria.

• A natural source of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds possessing strong antioxidant, radical-scavenging, and antibacterial activities. 

• Contains many nutrients including vitamins A and K, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, folate, and beta-carotene.

• There have been studies done on its anti-inflammatory abilities, its effect on cognition and memory, as well as its ability to lower cholesterol and blood glucose levels. This is exciting news for those with diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and high cholesterol.

• It has been looked at for use against obesity in studies due to its active components on the pancreatic lipase activity and lipid digestion. 

• Traditionally been used for the treatment of digestive and circulatory disturbances, bronchitis, cough, asthma, angina, mouth and throat inflammations, depression, excessive sweating, hot flashes, skin diseases, muscle tension, worms, colds, and flu, etc. 

• Used to dry breast milk production.
  

Sage tea: 

Bring 1 quart of water to a boil

Add 1 ounce of fresh sage leaves,  honey to taste, 1-2 lemons cut into wedges

Turn off heat, cover pot, and let sit for 30 minutes, strain and drink. May also use as a gargle for a sore throat.

Sage can interfere with certain medications or health conditions. Those that are dry or experiencing Yin deficiency should consult a qualified herbalist.  Sage should be avoided by those women who are pregnant or nursing.  If you are unsure if sage is right for you - let me know,  I am happy to work with you to see if it is a fit. 

• Christensen KB, Jorgenson M, Kotowska D, Peterson RK, Kristiansen K, Christensen LP. Activation of the nuclear receptor PPARγ by metabolites isolated from sage (Salvia officinalis L.) J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;132:127–33.

• Baranauskiene R, Dambrauskiene E, Venskutonis P. Influence of harvesting time on the yield and chemical composition of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) Foodbalt. 2011:105–9.

• Yurtseven S, Cetin M, Sengiil T, Sogut B. Effect of sage extract (Salvia officinalis) on growth performance, blood parameters, oxidative stress and DNA damage in partridges. S Afr J Anim Sci. 2008;38:145–52

• Yadav S, Mukundan U. In vitro antioxidant properties of Salvia coccinea Buc’hoz ex etl. and Salvia officinalis L. Indian J Fundam Appl Life Sci. 2011;1:232–8

• Ninomiya K, Matsuda H, Shimoda H, Nishida N, Kasajima N, Youshino T, et al. Carnosic acid, a new class of lipid absorption inhibitor from sage. Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2004;14:1943–6