Blessed Thistle is often used in teas for nursing mothers to help increase milk supply. It is known to increase circulation and treat hormone imbalance. It enhances memory by delivering oxygen to the brain and is supportive of the heart and lungs.

According to the book Nutritional Herbology:

Herbalists use it as a female tonic to increase mother’s milk and treat painful menstruation.

Large doses produce an emetic and expectorant effect. Its bitter glycosides are said to stimulate appetite and act as a tonic to the digestive tract. Large doses are also said to produce a diaphoretic and general stimulant action.

In the last century, blessed thistle has received a reputation for its action on the internal organs such as the liver and kidneys. Homeopaths have touted it most highly in this regard and use a tincture to treat jaundice, hepatitis, and arthritis.

Early man believed that ingesting bitter herbs gave strength that could be used to combat illness. Physiologically, bitter herbs stimulate various organs of the body into a reflex action that triggers the glands into action, producing various effects. In blessed thistle, the organs affected are thought to be the liver and female reproductive organs.

Contains bitter compounds that decrease the thickness while increasing the production of mucosal fluids particularly in the digestive and respiratory systems. It also contains astringent compounds that are antiseptic, dilate peripheral blood vessels, and shrink inflamed tissue. Blessed thistle is an excellent herbal source of potassium and sodium. The herb has been used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, arthritis, dysura, jaundice, fevers and respiratory allergies.

Related posts:

1. Herb Profile- Barberry Root Bark
2. Herb Profile-Alfalfa
3. Herb Profile: Black Walnut Hull

Black Walnut Hulls

Black Walnut Hull or Juglans Nigra is, just as it sounds, the  hull of the black walnut tree. The Black Walnut tree grows in the eastern US and parts of Canada, and while easy to grow, it is not plentiful.

Black Walnut has been used in herbal medicine for thousands of years. It has been used throughout history for treatment of intestinal problems, snakebites, open wounds, ulcers, scurvy, and as one of the most effective laxatives available. Because of its dark color, the outer hull is also used as a dye and was used in brown hair dye until the early 1900s. Black walnut is a good source of beta-carotene, acids, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, silicon, zinc, tannin, B-vitamins and vitamin C.

Today, black walnut hulls are used to help with many conditions. It is known to be a gentle and effective laxative. Black walnut is known as an effective anti-viral and is used to fix warts, which are caused by viruses. Black walnut is an anti-fungus and has been used to fight herpes, cold sores, athlete’s foot and Candida. It has been used as an antiseptic to combat illness like sexually transmitted infections and malaria and can be used to treat acne.

According to scientific labs:

Black Walnut Hull may help to lower blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels and is believed to burn up toxins and fatty materials while balancing blood sugar levels. This activity may help to ward off heart disease.

The tannins in Black Walnut Hull (and leaves) possess an astringent quality that is thought to shrink the sweat glands and reduce excessive sweating.  The herb is said to help control menorrhagia, the excessive loss of blood during periods. It is also used to control diarrhea.

Black Walnut Hull is considered a tonic that aids digestion and the intestinal system. It helps to relieve colic, heartburn and flatulence.  As a cholagogue, Black Walnut stimulates the flow of bile into the intestines and is thought to ease bilious colic and pain in the spleen.

Perhaps Black Walnut’s most well-known property is its ability to fight intestinal parasites. It is a well documented vermifuge that is effective at helping the body rid itself of parasites. As a laxative, it expels parasites as part of its cleansing of the body and the high tannin and juglone content is thought to oxygenate the blood and kill parasites. Black walnut is effective against pinworm, ringworm, tapeworm and other intestinal parasites.

According to BulkHerbStore.com, black walnut can be used for:

Indicated Usages – Internal:

Ballooned or relaxed colon	Constipation
Diarrhea	Parasites (intestinal worms)
Sore throat, tonsillitis	Warts

Indicated Usages – External:

Abscesses, boils	Acne
Conjunctivitis, eye disorders	Nosebleed
Leukorrhea, yeast infection, candida	Hemorrhoids
Eczema, psoriasis, shingles	Ringworm (tinea)

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1. Herb Profile- Barberry Root Bark
2. Herb Profile-Alfalfa
3. Herb Profile- Blessed Thistle

Barberry Root Bark

Ever wonder how to use Barberry root bark (Berberis vulgaris)? Barberry is a large bush that can grow up to 15 feet tall. Though native to Europe, it has been grown in parts of the US. It has leaves similar to a Holly bush and red berries. The bark of the trunk and root is known for its medicinal uses as it contains alkaloids that assist in a number of bodily functions, especially of the digestive track.

According to BulkHerbStore.com:

Barberry is noted in folk medicine as a cure for nearly every gastrointestinal ailment, lymphatics, urinary tract and respiratory infection. It has been used as a bitter tonic and antypyretic. Berberine, the primary alkaloid, is a potent antibiotic, astringent and antifungal. When taken for infections, it controls the overgrowth of candida albacans as well as functioning as a bactericide. This is a real advantage over conventional antibiotics. It also controls infectious diarrhea and increases the production of the digestive enzymes.

In Italy, Barberry is known as “Holy Thorn” as it was believed to have formed part of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. According this this article:

Barberry is said to have a beneficial effect on blood pressure by causing a dilatation of the blood vessels.  This herb has also been used to relieve hepatitis, colic, jaundice, diabetes and consumption.  Historically, Barberry was used as a bitter tonic to stimulate digestion and in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis, sciatica and rheumatic complaints.  Use of this botanical is believed to decrease heart rate, depress breathing, stimulate intestinal movement, reduce bronchial constriction and kill bacteria on the skin.  External applications have included use for sores, burns, ulcers, acne, itch, tetters ringworm, cuts and bruises.  It is indicated in congestive jaundice and inflammation of the gallbladder and gallstones.  As a bitter tonic with mild laxative effects, Barberry has been used by weak or debilitated people to strengthen and cleanse the system.   It is also thought to reduce an enlarged spleen.  The herb is said to combat malaria and has been effective in the treatment of protozoan infections.  Berberine is highly antibacterial, anti-amoebic and trypanocidal and has been active in vitro and in animals against cholera.  It makes a useful compress for inflammatory eye conditions such as blepharitis and conjunctivitis.

Barberry can be found in capsules or in dried form and can be used in tinctures.

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1. Herb Profile- Blessed Thistle
2. Herb Profile: Black Walnut Hull
3. Herb Profile-Alfalfa

Activated charcoal is well known as a poison antidote as it absorbs most organic toxins, chemicals and poisons before they can harm the body. Some Emergency Rooms administer large doses of activated charcoal for certain types of poisoning. According to this article, activated charcoal should be taken as soon as possible after a poison is ingested and in a ratio of 8:1. In other words, if 1 gram of poison is ingested, 8 grams of charcoal should be taken. Some people also recommend a 10:1 ratio, or a general dose of 100 grams. There are no known side effects of charcoal, even in large doses. When in doubt, take a large dose, as even large doses are not harmful, but too small a dose is ineffective.

Activated charcoal is so effective that it is often used to remove chemical toxins from overdose of medicine from the body. Activated charcoal is able to do this because it:

1. Purifies the 6-8 liters of digestive fluids that are secreted daily which in turn helps remove foreign substances from the blood.
2. Absorbs the intoxicant substance and its metabolites that are excreted into the small intestine from the biliary (bile) tract, preventing their reabsorption.
3. Absorbs drugs that diffuse back into the stomach and intestines.
4. Decreases the detoxification work load of the liver

Activated charcoal can also be taken in small doses (10-20 grams a day) as part of a general detoxification program. Because of its ability to attract toxins of all kinds, activated charcoal can also be taken to help treat the flu, colds, digestive illness, and other types of ailments. Activated charcoal can also counteract the effects of Candida in the body and can help with intestinal complaints.

Charcoal is not known to be toxic, though it should not be taken within two hours of vitamins or medications because it will keep the body from absorbing them. Care should also be taken to find a high quality form of charcoal.

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2. Herb Profile- Blessed Thistle
3. Red Clover for Relief from Hormonal and Stress Related Problems

Arnica is native to Europe and has been used for centuries. Many athletes use some form of Arnica to recover from muscle strain and speed recovery after a work-out. Arnica is not to be taken internally, though some homeopathic remedies are available that are generally considered safe. Arnica should not be applied to broken or burned skin.

Arnica can be used in tinctures, salves, vinegar tinctures, decoctions, etc. Here is a recipe for a salve I always keep in the house:

3/4 cup oil infused with arnica (pour oil over dried herbs, shake daily for six weeks)

1.5 oz Beeswax

A few drops of Wintergreen Essential Oil

Directions: Warm oil in double boiler. Add beeswax and stir until melted. Add Wintergreen Oil in desired amount (warning-wintergreen is very strong!). Pour into desired storage container (we use small tins or little jam jars). Let cool.

Can be used on bruises, sprains, strains, head bumps, etc. I most recently used this after falling and bruising my tailbone on the stairs (why am I so clumsy during pregnancy?)

Have a healthy week.

Related posts:

1. Herb Profile- Blessed Thistle
2. Herb Profile- Barberry Root Bark
3. Herb Profile-Alfalfa