This file was sent to me by a friend and I kept it for future medical reference. this was just a few but she said that much more useful info like this is available at
Herb2000.com
Anise has been popular in the ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic (Indian) medical systems for many centuries. There are several varieties of aniseed, the most common being the ash-colored kind from Spain. Anise belongs to the same botanical family (Umbelliferae) as parsley and carrots.
Imagine having a tea that will get rid of oily skin, improve your memory, calm a nagging cough, produce breast milk for nursing mothers and serve as a natural antacid in place of either Tums or Rolaids for heartburn and indigestion. All these wonderful things can be accomplished simply by bringing 1 quart of water to a boil. Then add about 7 teaspoons of aniseed, reduce heat and simmer contents down to 1-1/2 pints. Strain and, while still warm, add 4 teaspoons each of honey and glycerine (obtained from a drugstore to preserve syrup tea). Take 2 teaspoons of this syrup every few hours to relieve hacking coughs, or 2 tablespoons three times daily to strengthen the memory. If using as a tea, omit and drink 2 cups once or twice daily for skin problems, milk needs or to relieve stomach problems.
Anise has been cultivated in Egypt for at least 4,000 years. Pharaonic medical texts indicate that the seeds were used as a diuretic, to treat digestive problems, and to relieve toothache. The plant was also well known to the ancient Greeks. Dioscorides (1st century AD) wrote that anise "warms, dries and dissolves; facilitates breathing, relieves pain, provokes urine and eases thirst." In his A New Herball of 1551, William Turner recorded that "Anyse maketh the breth sweter and swageth payne."
PARTS USED
Seeds, essential oil.
USES
Anise seeds are well known for their ability to reduce gas and bloating, and to settle the digestion. They are commonly given to infants and children to relieve colic, and to people of all ages to relieve nausea and indigestion. Anise seeds' antispasmodic properties make them helpful in countering, menstrual pain, asthma, whooping cough, and other spasmodic coughs, and bronchitis. Their expectorant action justifies their use for these respiratory ailments. Anise seeds are thought to increase breast-milk production, and may be beneficial in treating impotence and frigidity. Anise essential oil is used for similar complaints, and is also used externally for lice and scabies.
CAUTIONS Do not take the essential oil internally except under professional supervision. Do not take anise during pregnancy, except in amounts normally used in cooking
Aloe Vera
Aloe is the source of two products that are completely different in their chemical composition and their therapeutic properties but which have very similar names that are sometimes interchanged. Aloe (aloe vera) gel or mucilage is a thin, clear, jellylike material obtained from the so-called parenchymal tissue making up the inner portion of aloe leaves. It is prepared from the leaf by various procedures, all of which involve its separation not only from the inner cellular debris but, especially, from specialized cells known as pericyclic tubules that occur just beneath the epidermis or rind of these same leaves. Such cells contain a bitter yellow latex or juice that is dried to produce the pharmaceutical product known as aloe, an active cathartic.
Aloe gel (mucilage) is used both externally and internally for its wound-healing properties and as a general tonic or cure-all. This is the aloe product commonly incorporated in a wide variety of non-laxative drug and cosmetic products. Aloe latex or juice, usually in its dried form, is employed as a potent cathartic. Unfortunately, the mechanical separation processes employed are often not completely effective. As such, aloe gel is sometimes contaminated with aloe latex, thus inducing an unwanted laxative effect following consumption of the so-called gel. In addition, advertisements prepared by copywriters who do not understand the vast difference between aloe gel and aloe juice often use the word juice to describe the thin mucilaginous gel.
To confuse matters even more thoroughly, there is still another product called aloe that is entirely different from the two just described. That is the aloe of the Bible, the so-called lignaloes or aloe wood, a fragrant wood from an entirely different plant that was once used as an incense. It has nothing to do with the aloe we are discussing except that some persons try to glamorize aloe gel by incorrectly ascribing to it a biblical origin. The names may be the same, but the plants referred to are not. Actually, aloe latex has been used as a laxative for about eighteen centuries, but neither it nor aloe gel is referred to in the Bible.
Having disposed of these nomenclatural difficulties, let us return to the use of aloe gel (mucilage) as a wound-healing agent and all-around remedy. Although many sources agree that the gel pos- sesses some activity in its fresh state, there is controversy over whether this activity is retained during storage. Commercial processors claim that the stability problem has been overcome, and a "stabilized" product is incorporated in a wide variety of preparations, including juices, gels, ointments, creams, lotions, and shampoos.
However, at least one scientific test failed to verify any beneficial effects of a "stabilized" aloe vera gel on human cells. Fluid from fresh leaf sources was found to promote significantly the attachment and growth of normal human cells grown in artificial culture. It also enhanced the healing of wounded monolayers of the cells. On the other hand, the "stabilized" commercial product not only failed to induce such effects but actually proved toxic to the cultured cells. The investigators who carried out these studies concluded that commercially prepared aloe vera gel fractions "can markedly disrupt the in vitro attachment and growth of human cells."
Review of several other studies led to the conclusion that a number of them did provide evidence to support the use of aloe vera gel, and some preparations containing it, for the treatment of various types of skin ulceration in humans and burn and frostbite injuries in animals. More recently, a cream base containing aloe was found effective in preserving circulation in the skin after frostbite injury. Stabilized aloe vera was shown to produce a dramatic acceleration of wound healing in patients who had undergone full-face dermabrasion.
It is postulated that aloe may function in such cases by inhibiting bradykinin, a pain-producing agent; also, it apparently hinders the formation of thromboxane, whose activity is detrimental to burn wound healing. Aloe gel also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Studies on the mechanism of action of aloe gel or partially purified extracts in vitro on skin wound-healing repair processes provides evidence that aloe stimulates fibroblast and epithelial cell growth, induces lectinlike responses in human immune cells, and stimulates neuronlike cell growth. Still, relatively little is known about the identity and stability of the ingredients responsible for these effects. A glycoprotein fraction has been shown to promote cell growth in human and animal cell media, while a polysaccharide fraction did not stimulate growth. Many compounds of aloe are probably subject to deterioration on storage, so use of the fresh gel is the only way to be certain of maximal activity.
In addition, various commercial preparations often contain minimal amounts of aloe. One way to determine the relative quantity present is to determine the position of aloe in the list of ingredients stated on the label. If it is not near the top, the amount present is probably quite small. Also, be cautious about preparations labeled "aloe vera extract," which may be highly diluted or "reconstituted aloe vera," meaning that the product has been prepared from a powder or liquid concentrate.
Aloe gel (often incorrectly designated "juice") is described in the popular literature as a cleanser, anesthetic, antiseptic, antipyretic, antipruritic, nutrient, moisturizer, and vasodilator and is also said to possess anti-inflammatory properties and to promote cell proliferation. Recommendations for internal use range from the treatment of coughs to constipation; externally aloe vera is used primarily for burns, for conditioning the skin, and even for headache. A salesman drinks it to "detoxify" his system. One Arkansas physician applied it to relieve the symptoms of poison ivy. The utility of aloe in treating many of these conditions has not been verified.
Mixed results have been published on the traditional use of aloe juice in treating diabetes. A controlled clinical study involved seventy-seven volunteers who were administered one tablespoonful of aloe juice, or placebo, twice a day for up to forty-two days. A significant reduction in blood sugar and triglyceride levels was observed in the treatment group. Cholesterol levels remained the same in both groups. This conflicts with an earlier study that was unable to support benefit of claimed efficacy in diabetes mellitus or in gastric ulcers.
In the 1990s, a body of scientific literature has arisen providing a rational scientific basis for aloe's use in treating minor wounds and burns. This provides a foundation to support an impressive body of folklore attesting to aloe's healing properties on external application.
Many people keep a potted aloe plant on the windowsill in the kitchen so that a leaf can be cut off and the freshly exuded gel applied to minor burns. Since the safety of such procedures has never been questioned, it is a therapy that has much to recommend it. Also, the treatment is inexpensive and overcomes the potential problems of stability and retention of the gel's desirable properties following commercial processing and storage.
PARTS USED
Leaves exude a bitter liquid, which is dried and known as "bitter aloes." They also contain a clear gel, which is a soothing skin remedy.
USES
Beauty treatment - Aloe vera has a long history as a skin lotion -Cleopatra is said to have attributed her beauty to it.
Western remedy - In the West, aloe vera first became popular in the 1950s when its ability to heal bums, in particular radiation bums, was discovered.
First aid - Aloe vera is an excellent first aid remedy to keep in the home for burns, scrapes, scalds, and sunburn. A leaf broken off releases soothing gel, which may be applied to the affected part.
Skin conditions - The gel is useful for almost any skin condition that needs soothing and astringing, and will help varicose veins to some degree.
Ulcers - The protective and healing effect of aloe vera also works internally, and the gel can be used for peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
Laxative - The bitter yellow liquid in the leaves (bitter aloes) contains anthraquinones, which are strongly laxative. They cause the colon to contract, generally producing a bowel movement 8 - 12 hours after consumption. At low doses, the bitter properties of the herb stimulate the digestion. At higher doses, bitter aloes are laxative and purgative.
Other Uses - Abscess, Acne, Balanitis, Cervical cancer, Herpes, Lung cancer, Mouth ulcers, Wrinkles.
HOMEOPATHY
The aloe has been used in medicine from early times both as a purgative and tonic. The Greeks and Romans thought aloe was good for stimulating bile flow in order to cure abdominal afflictions. In the early part of the 20th century, aloe was frequently used as a purgative. The homeopathic remedy was first proved by Dr. Constantine Hering in 1864.
This remedy is used to treat congestion, especially in the pelvic organs, abdomen, and head; for example minor prolapse of the uterus, prostate problems, constipation, and headaches. It is also useful for diarrhea with painful urination brought on by food intolerance. This is a common remedy for people who have a very sedentary lifestyle, especially the elderly and those who suffer fatigue. Aloe is also useful for those who have drunk too much alcohol, especially beer.
Basil
Basil is cultivated worldwide as an annual plant. Many varieties have different compositions and flavoring characteristics. Basil is strongly affected by environmental factors like temperature, geographic location, soil and amount of rainfall. Its thin branching root produces bushy stems growing from 1-2 feet high and bearing leaves of a purple hue, and two-lipped flowers, varying in color from white to red, sometimes with a purple tinge.
The steaming tea is good for a patient with fever to inhale while covered with a blanket. Cool basil tea is good for all kinds of eye problems, both as an eyewash and internal tea. Obviously fresh basil leaves and unground seeds are the best to use when making a tea. If such is obtainable in your immediate area, bring 2 pints of water to a boil and add 15 basil seeds. Cover and reduce the heat, slowly simmering for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1-1/2 handfuls of fresh or half-dried basil and steep for another 25 minutes or so. Drink or gargle with this tea on the average of 2 cups per day as needed. When lukewarm, the strained tea can also be used to bathe the eyes. If ground basil is all that's available, another form of tea can be made and used for most of the previously described problems except as an eyewash. Bring 3- 1/2 cups of water to a boil; remove from heat and add 1-1/4 level teaspoons ground basil. Cover and steep for half an hour. Sweeten with a touch of pure maple syrup and drink on the average 1 cup twice daily.
Ever had a headache and needed a simple relief remedy? It's easy to prepare. Just take a level teaspoon of dried, ground basil and put into 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes, then strain. When the liquid is cool, add 2 tablespoons Tincture of Witch Hazel that's been previously refrigerated for a while. You can get the Witch Hazel tincture at your local drugstore or supermarket pharmacy section. Apply the solution as a compress to the forehead and temples, for relief you wouldn't believe possible!
PARTS USED
Leaves, flowering tops, essential oil.
USES
Sweet basil acts principally on the digestive and nervous systems, easing flatulence, stomach cramps, colic, and indigestion. Sweet basil can be used to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting, and helps to kill intestinal worms. Sweet basil has a mildly sedative action, proving useful in treating nervous irritability, tiredness, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Sweet basil may also be taken for epilepsy, migraine, and whooping cough. Sweet basil has been traditionally taken to increase breast-milk production. Applied externally, basil leaves act as an insect repellent. The juice from the leaves brings relief to insect bites. Sweet basil has an established antibacterial action.
Other Uses - Altitude sickness, Ovulation pain.
Bearberry
Bearberry or Uva Ursi is a small, evergreen shrub found in the northern U.S. and in Europe, especially in dry, sandy or gravelly soils. A single long, fibrous main root sends out several prostrate or buried stems from which grow erect, branching stems 4-6 inches high. The bark is dark brown or slightly reddish. The small leathery obovate to spatulate leaves are rounded at the apex, 1/2-1 inch long, and slightly rolled down at the edges. Fall is the best time to pick the leaves.
Bearberry is remarkable for reducing accumulations of uric acid in the body. Bearberry also relieves the extreme pain accompanying kidney and bladder stones and inflammation of the bladder itself. This is best accomplished by soaking a handful of fresh leaves in enough brandy to cover for one week, after which 1 tbsp. of these leaves, chopped or cut, are then simmered in 1 cup of boiling water for 20 minutes. Then before drinking when lukewarm, add a teaspoon of the brandy solution in which the leaves had been soaked to each cup of tea consumed.
Bearberry or manzanita is terrific for treating kidney problems. Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and renal calculi (kidney stones) are overcome with a tea made from the berries and leaves of this plant. Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) and urethritis in women (inflammation of the urethra) have been successfully treated using the same tea. It is the astringency of the tannin acid on the berries and leaves that makes them work so well in such medical conditions.
To make an all-purpose tea, bring a quart of water to a boil. Then add 3 tablespoons of dried, chopped berries and leaves. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 5 minutes. Turn off the stove and let the brew steep for a half hour. Strain one cup at a time and take when lukewarm on an empty stomach.
In folk medicine, bearberry is a diuretic and astringent for diseases of the bladder and kidneys. It is supposed to impart tone to the urinary passages and also to exert an antiseptic action there. This is supposed to render the drug practicable in various inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract such as urethritis, cystitis, etc. Bearberry contains about 5 to 12 percent of the phenolic glycoside arbutin, which hydrolyzes when taken to release hydroquinone, the principal antiseptic and astringent constituent of the plant. Ursolic acid, a triterpene derivative, and isoquercitrin, a flavonoid pigment, also contribute to the diuretic action. Bearberry contains large amounts (15 to 20 percent) of tannin, an undesirable constituent that tends to upset the stomach. Consequently, the leaves should not be extracted with hot water, as is normally the case in preparing a tea. Rather, it is better to pour cold water over them and allow them to stand twelve to twenty-four hours before drinking. This minimizes the tannin content of the beverage.
Arbutin, or more specifically, the hydroquinone derived from it, is a rather effective urinary antiseptic, but only if taken in large doses and if the urine is alkaline. This means that consumers should avoid eating acid-rich foods, including many fruits and their juices, sauerkraut, vitamin C, and similar products. Consumers must also be aware that hydroquinone, in large doses, is toxic and may cause ringing in the ears, vomiting, convulsions, and collapse. However, since the recommended dose of bearberry is 1 gram, three to six times daily (delivering an average of 400 to 800 mg arbutin daily), and doses as large as 20 grams have produced no adverse response in healthy individuals, there would seem to be minimal cause for concern. Bearberry is not recommended for children and pregnant or lactating women. If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, or worsen during treatment, medical advice is necessary.
Bearberry is an ingredient in practically all of the kidney- and bladder-type teas, large numbers of which are marketed in Europe. It appears to be a modestly effective urinary antiseptic and diuretic if properly employed. The wisdom of self-determining conditions in which it might prove helpful and then self-treating them is, of course, an individual matter.
PARTS USED
Leaves, berries.
USES
Bearberry is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics. Bearberry has been used extensively in herbal medicine to disinfect and astringe the urinary tract in cases of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis. However, bearberry is not a suitable remedy if there is a simultaneous infection of the kidneys.
Other Uses - Prostatitis, Urinary incontinence.
Blessed Thistle
Blessed thistle is a very useful herb for women. Blessed thistle can be taken to relieve painful periods, and for menstrual headaches. As an emmenagogue blessed thistle will help bring on suppressed periods (and so should be avoided during pregnancy). Blessed thistle can be helpful during problems with the menopause, such as heavy bleeding. The bitters in blessed thistle enhance the appetite and aid digestion, while stimulating the liver and the flow of bile. Blessed thistle is a good remedy for anorexia, indigestion, wind, colic and any condition associated with a sluggish liver such as headaches, lethargy and irritability. Its astringent action is useful for treating diarrhea.
The bitters have been shown to have an antimicrobial action, useful for enhancing the function of the immune system. Blessed thistle has also been shown to act as an antineoplastic, hindering the formation of abnormal cells, useful in cancer treatment. Blessed thistle also has diuretic properties and when taken in hot infusion is a useful diaphoretic for fevers and an expectorant for chest problems. Blessed thistle can be used to staunch bleeding of cuts, and speed healing of wounds. Blesses thistle also acts as an antiseptic.
Blessed thistle was widely used during medieval times. Frequent mention of its uses were made in some of the great herbals of that era (Gerard's Herbal in 1597 and Turner's Herbal in 1568). This particular herb had religious connotations surrounding it, hence other common names for it like "holy thistle" or "Holy Ghost herb." Blessed thistle apparently helped to relieve pain and inflammation of the heart in the 16th and 17th centuries. William Shakespeare recommends "laying it to your heart" because it "helpeth that doth hurt and annoye the hart," in his play, Much Ado about Nothing. Blessed thistle is found in moist areas, waste places, meadows and pastures.
Blessed thistle is one of the best medicines for promoting breast milk in nursing mothers. To make a tea for this and also improve the heart, just bring 1 pint of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1-1/2 level tablespoons of cut, dried herb. Let steep for 45 minutes. Strain and drink warm, 1 cup at a time about half an hour before nursing an infant. Or for convenience, a mother may wish to take the herb in the powdered form, 2 capsules three times daily during the nursing period. Powdered herb for the tea may be purchased by mail order from Indiana Botanic Gardens in Hammond or in capsule form under the Nature's Way label from any local health food store. A good blend of this and other herbs for increasing milk flow is available from Old Amish Herbs under the name Thistle Milk.
Blessed thistle is still very popular in the Black Forest of Bavaria in southern Germany for liver problems and digestive disturbances. There it is taken in 1 teaspoon doses as a fluid extract. A similar dosage can be made easily by combining 1-1/2 tablespoons of powdered blessed thistle in 1-1/2 cups of brandy or vodka. Let stand for two weeks in a pint jar, shaking vigorously each day. Then strain material and put into another jar and store in a coot, dry place. A teaspoon of this extract can be added to 4 fluid ounces of distilled water and taken on an empty stomach.
PARTS USED
Leaves, flowering tops.
USES
Holy thistle is a good bitter tonic, stimulating the secretions of the stomach, intestines, and gallbladder. Holy thistle is taken for minor digestive complaints. Holy thistle has also been a treatment for intermittent fevers .Holy thistle is mildly expectorant and is also antibiotic. Holy thistle makes a healing balm for wounds and sores.
CAUTIONS In excessive doses, holy thistle may cause vomiting. It is subject to legal restrictions in some countries
Borage
Borage is an annual plant more common to European and Mediterranean countries than it is here, but is cultivated in some places and pretty well known by many North American herbalists. Strangely enough, an herb with such marvelous healing properties grows well in junkyards and waste places, but is much more difficult to grow in tidy gardens and "perfect" nurseries.
To handle the plant, gloves are a requirement because of the white, stiff, prickly hairs covering both leaves and stems. Borage gets about two feet tall and bears blue or purplish, star-shaped flowers during the summer months.
The original common name for this herb was "burrage" or "llanwenlys" from the Welsh, which signifies "Herb of Gladness." One ancient Welsh herbalist informs us of "those of our time who do use the flowers in salets to exhilerate and make glad the minde when depressed. There be also many things made of them, used everywhere for the comfort of the harte, for driving away sorrows and increasing the joie of the mind and spirit."
Since ancient times, borage has had a reputation for dispelling melancholy and fostering courage. Its name may come from a corruption of corago, "I bring courage." Or it may derive from another Latin word, burra, which means "a flock of wool"- perhaps reference to the plant's hairy leaves and stems. Some plant historians feel that the herb's name may have originated from the Celtic word barrach meaning "a man of courage." The Welsh call borage the "herb of gladness." The Romans made borage flowers into an elixir which Pliny said had the power to lighten spirits, and in Elizabethan England borage was prescribed for melancholy.
Borage, a hardy annual, is also nicknamed "bee's bread" because of the bees that pollinate it and love to hover around its flowers. The actual color of borage stems and leaves is dark blue-green, but prickly white hairs covering the whole plant give it a silvery cast. The stems are hollow and succulent; the leaves are alternate, wrinkled, and about 3 inches long. Its beautiful blue, star like flowers are accented with black anthers. Borage is a lovely plant which usually grows to about 1 1/2 feet high. Its branches can extend out to a width of about 3 feet, creating a wonderful rounded shape. Borage, which likes to grow with strawberries and looks attractive planted among other herbs and flowers, is thought to help discourage insects from attacking nearby plants.
The herb is believed to have originated in northwestern Syria, but now borage grows in many parts of Europe and the United States, both in gardens and marginal areas. Borage can be planted from seed when the danger of frost is past. After the first seeding, it will self-sow abundantly, and the new plants can be thinned or transplanted. Transplant borage carefully when it is still quite young. A single plant will spread over a 4-foot-square area, so allow borage transplants plenty of room to expand. With enough soil undisturbed around its roots, and careful handling, borage will flourish in a new place in the garden. Borage prefers a loose, well-aerated soil that is moist and fairly rich, although it will grow in less favored soils, too. Composted manure should be added to the soil where borage grows. Mulching the borage bed when the young plants are a few weeks old will provide the moist environment this herb prefers.
You can gather selected leaves and flowers for fresh use throughout borage's growing season. To harvest leaves for medicinal use, gather them before the plant flowers and dry them, taking care not to expose them to heat. Borage leaves discolor and lose their viable healing qualities unless they are dried in a place that is warm with plenty of circulating air. You can gather flowers at blooming time, and dry them in the same way.
Medicinally, borage has a calming and cooling effect and can help break fevers. In Europe, borage tea has been used traditionally as a strengthening tonic for convalescing patients. American herbalist William LeSassier suggests that borage is a good herb for people with high blood pressure, or those who are apprehensive or worry a lot.
Versatile borage has a gastronomical dimension to it, too. The plant was enjoyed In the Middle Ages and centuries later as a popular salad herb. Even today; savvy cooks know that the young leaves and flowers lend a refreshing flavor to salads. An infusion of borage leaves can be served cold as a beverage tea, decorated with the gorgeous, sky blue flowers. Borage flowers can also be candied and used to decorate special desserts and confections. Borage is often described as having a cucumber like taste. This is somewhat true, but it's much the same as describing something as tasting "like chicken."
Borage is a cooling, cleansing herb used for detoxifying the system and for any condition associated with heat and congestion. Borage increases sweat production, and has a diuretic action, hastening excretion of toxins via the skin and the urinary system. Borage tea can be taken to clear skin problems, such as boils and rashes, for arthritis and rheumatism, during infections and to bring down a fever. Borage is also good for clearing children's eruptive diseases such as measles and chickenpox, and for feverish colds, coughs and flu. Borage has a decongestant and expectorant action in the respiratory system and makes an excellent remedy for catarrh, sore throats and chest infections. The mucilage in borage soothes any sore, irritated condition of the throat and chest. It has the same action in the urinary system and the digestive system, making it useful for gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. The leaves and seeds increase milk supply in nursing mothers.
Borage has an ancient reputation as a heart tonic; it calms palpitations and revitalizes the system during convalescence and exhaustion. Borage has a relaxing effect and is said to give courage and help relieve grief and sadness. Borage stimulates the adrenal glands which can prove valuable in countering the effects of steroids and helpful when weaning off steroid therapy to encourage the adrenal glands to produce their own steroid hormones. Borage is also useful during the menopause when the adrenal glands take over estrogen production. These properties are also present in the seeds which contain gamma linoleic acid.
PARTS USED
Aerial parts, flowers, seed oil.
USES
With its high mucilage content, borage is a demulcent and soothes respiratory problems. Its emollient qualities make it helpful for sore and inflamed skin - prepared either as freshly squeezed juice, in a poultice, or as an infusion. The flowers encourage sweating, and the leaves are diuretic. The seed oil is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fats and is superior in this respect to evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis). Borage seed oil is used to treat premenstrual complaints, rheumatic problems, eczema, and other chronic skin conditions.
Other uses - Lung cancer, Prostate cancer.
Herb2000.com
Anise has been popular in the ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic (Indian) medical systems for many centuries. There are several varieties of aniseed, the most common being the ash-colored kind from Spain. Anise belongs to the same botanical family (Umbelliferae) as parsley and carrots.
Imagine having a tea that will get rid of oily skin, improve your memory, calm a nagging cough, produce breast milk for nursing mothers and serve as a natural antacid in place of either Tums or Rolaids for heartburn and indigestion. All these wonderful things can be accomplished simply by bringing 1 quart of water to a boil. Then add about 7 teaspoons of aniseed, reduce heat and simmer contents down to 1-1/2 pints. Strain and, while still warm, add 4 teaspoons each of honey and glycerine (obtained from a drugstore to preserve syrup tea). Take 2 teaspoons of this syrup every few hours to relieve hacking coughs, or 2 tablespoons three times daily to strengthen the memory. If using as a tea, omit and drink 2 cups once or twice daily for skin problems, milk needs or to relieve stomach problems.
Anise has been cultivated in Egypt for at least 4,000 years. Pharaonic medical texts indicate that the seeds were used as a diuretic, to treat digestive problems, and to relieve toothache. The plant was also well known to the ancient Greeks. Dioscorides (1st century AD) wrote that anise "warms, dries and dissolves; facilitates breathing, relieves pain, provokes urine and eases thirst." In his A New Herball of 1551, William Turner recorded that "Anyse maketh the breth sweter and swageth payne."
PARTS USED
Seeds, essential oil.
USES
Anise seeds are well known for their ability to reduce gas and bloating, and to settle the digestion. They are commonly given to infants and children to relieve colic, and to people of all ages to relieve nausea and indigestion. Anise seeds' antispasmodic properties make them helpful in countering, menstrual pain, asthma, whooping cough, and other spasmodic coughs, and bronchitis. Their expectorant action justifies their use for these respiratory ailments. Anise seeds are thought to increase breast-milk production, and may be beneficial in treating impotence and frigidity. Anise essential oil is used for similar complaints, and is also used externally for lice and scabies.
CAUTIONS Do not take the essential oil internally except under professional supervision. Do not take anise during pregnancy, except in amounts normally used in cooking
Aloe Vera
Aloe is the source of two products that are completely different in their chemical composition and their therapeutic properties but which have very similar names that are sometimes interchanged. Aloe (aloe vera) gel or mucilage is a thin, clear, jellylike material obtained from the so-called parenchymal tissue making up the inner portion of aloe leaves. It is prepared from the leaf by various procedures, all of which involve its separation not only from the inner cellular debris but, especially, from specialized cells known as pericyclic tubules that occur just beneath the epidermis or rind of these same leaves. Such cells contain a bitter yellow latex or juice that is dried to produce the pharmaceutical product known as aloe, an active cathartic.
Aloe gel (mucilage) is used both externally and internally for its wound-healing properties and as a general tonic or cure-all. This is the aloe product commonly incorporated in a wide variety of non-laxative drug and cosmetic products. Aloe latex or juice, usually in its dried form, is employed as a potent cathartic. Unfortunately, the mechanical separation processes employed are often not completely effective. As such, aloe gel is sometimes contaminated with aloe latex, thus inducing an unwanted laxative effect following consumption of the so-called gel. In addition, advertisements prepared by copywriters who do not understand the vast difference between aloe gel and aloe juice often use the word juice to describe the thin mucilaginous gel.
To confuse matters even more thoroughly, there is still another product called aloe that is entirely different from the two just described. That is the aloe of the Bible, the so-called lignaloes or aloe wood, a fragrant wood from an entirely different plant that was once used as an incense. It has nothing to do with the aloe we are discussing except that some persons try to glamorize aloe gel by incorrectly ascribing to it a biblical origin. The names may be the same, but the plants referred to are not. Actually, aloe latex has been used as a laxative for about eighteen centuries, but neither it nor aloe gel is referred to in the Bible.
Having disposed of these nomenclatural difficulties, let us return to the use of aloe gel (mucilage) as a wound-healing agent and all-around remedy. Although many sources agree that the gel pos- sesses some activity in its fresh state, there is controversy over whether this activity is retained during storage. Commercial processors claim that the stability problem has been overcome, and a "stabilized" product is incorporated in a wide variety of preparations, including juices, gels, ointments, creams, lotions, and shampoos.
However, at least one scientific test failed to verify any beneficial effects of a "stabilized" aloe vera gel on human cells. Fluid from fresh leaf sources was found to promote significantly the attachment and growth of normal human cells grown in artificial culture. It also enhanced the healing of wounded monolayers of the cells. On the other hand, the "stabilized" commercial product not only failed to induce such effects but actually proved toxic to the cultured cells. The investigators who carried out these studies concluded that commercially prepared aloe vera gel fractions "can markedly disrupt the in vitro attachment and growth of human cells."
Review of several other studies led to the conclusion that a number of them did provide evidence to support the use of aloe vera gel, and some preparations containing it, for the treatment of various types of skin ulceration in humans and burn and frostbite injuries in animals. More recently, a cream base containing aloe was found effective in preserving circulation in the skin after frostbite injury. Stabilized aloe vera was shown to produce a dramatic acceleration of wound healing in patients who had undergone full-face dermabrasion.
It is postulated that aloe may function in such cases by inhibiting bradykinin, a pain-producing agent; also, it apparently hinders the formation of thromboxane, whose activity is detrimental to burn wound healing. Aloe gel also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. Studies on the mechanism of action of aloe gel or partially purified extracts in vitro on skin wound-healing repair processes provides evidence that aloe stimulates fibroblast and epithelial cell growth, induces lectinlike responses in human immune cells, and stimulates neuronlike cell growth. Still, relatively little is known about the identity and stability of the ingredients responsible for these effects. A glycoprotein fraction has been shown to promote cell growth in human and animal cell media, while a polysaccharide fraction did not stimulate growth. Many compounds of aloe are probably subject to deterioration on storage, so use of the fresh gel is the only way to be certain of maximal activity.
In addition, various commercial preparations often contain minimal amounts of aloe. One way to determine the relative quantity present is to determine the position of aloe in the list of ingredients stated on the label. If it is not near the top, the amount present is probably quite small. Also, be cautious about preparations labeled "aloe vera extract," which may be highly diluted or "reconstituted aloe vera," meaning that the product has been prepared from a powder or liquid concentrate.
Aloe gel (often incorrectly designated "juice") is described in the popular literature as a cleanser, anesthetic, antiseptic, antipyretic, antipruritic, nutrient, moisturizer, and vasodilator and is also said to possess anti-inflammatory properties and to promote cell proliferation. Recommendations for internal use range from the treatment of coughs to constipation; externally aloe vera is used primarily for burns, for conditioning the skin, and even for headache. A salesman drinks it to "detoxify" his system. One Arkansas physician applied it to relieve the symptoms of poison ivy. The utility of aloe in treating many of these conditions has not been verified.
Mixed results have been published on the traditional use of aloe juice in treating diabetes. A controlled clinical study involved seventy-seven volunteers who were administered one tablespoonful of aloe juice, or placebo, twice a day for up to forty-two days. A significant reduction in blood sugar and triglyceride levels was observed in the treatment group. Cholesterol levels remained the same in both groups. This conflicts with an earlier study that was unable to support benefit of claimed efficacy in diabetes mellitus or in gastric ulcers.
In the 1990s, a body of scientific literature has arisen providing a rational scientific basis for aloe's use in treating minor wounds and burns. This provides a foundation to support an impressive body of folklore attesting to aloe's healing properties on external application.
Many people keep a potted aloe plant on the windowsill in the kitchen so that a leaf can be cut off and the freshly exuded gel applied to minor burns. Since the safety of such procedures has never been questioned, it is a therapy that has much to recommend it. Also, the treatment is inexpensive and overcomes the potential problems of stability and retention of the gel's desirable properties following commercial processing and storage.
PARTS USED
Leaves exude a bitter liquid, which is dried and known as "bitter aloes." They also contain a clear gel, which is a soothing skin remedy.
USES
Beauty treatment - Aloe vera has a long history as a skin lotion -Cleopatra is said to have attributed her beauty to it.
Western remedy - In the West, aloe vera first became popular in the 1950s when its ability to heal bums, in particular radiation bums, was discovered.
First aid - Aloe vera is an excellent first aid remedy to keep in the home for burns, scrapes, scalds, and sunburn. A leaf broken off releases soothing gel, which may be applied to the affected part.
Skin conditions - The gel is useful for almost any skin condition that needs soothing and astringing, and will help varicose veins to some degree.
Ulcers - The protective and healing effect of aloe vera also works internally, and the gel can be used for peptic ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
Laxative - The bitter yellow liquid in the leaves (bitter aloes) contains anthraquinones, which are strongly laxative. They cause the colon to contract, generally producing a bowel movement 8 - 12 hours after consumption. At low doses, the bitter properties of the herb stimulate the digestion. At higher doses, bitter aloes are laxative and purgative.
Other Uses - Abscess, Acne, Balanitis, Cervical cancer, Herpes, Lung cancer, Mouth ulcers, Wrinkles.
HOMEOPATHY
The aloe has been used in medicine from early times both as a purgative and tonic. The Greeks and Romans thought aloe was good for stimulating bile flow in order to cure abdominal afflictions. In the early part of the 20th century, aloe was frequently used as a purgative. The homeopathic remedy was first proved by Dr. Constantine Hering in 1864.
This remedy is used to treat congestion, especially in the pelvic organs, abdomen, and head; for example minor prolapse of the uterus, prostate problems, constipation, and headaches. It is also useful for diarrhea with painful urination brought on by food intolerance. This is a common remedy for people who have a very sedentary lifestyle, especially the elderly and those who suffer fatigue. Aloe is also useful for those who have drunk too much alcohol, especially beer.
Basil
Basil is cultivated worldwide as an annual plant. Many varieties have different compositions and flavoring characteristics. Basil is strongly affected by environmental factors like temperature, geographic location, soil and amount of rainfall. Its thin branching root produces bushy stems growing from 1-2 feet high and bearing leaves of a purple hue, and two-lipped flowers, varying in color from white to red, sometimes with a purple tinge.
The steaming tea is good for a patient with fever to inhale while covered with a blanket. Cool basil tea is good for all kinds of eye problems, both as an eyewash and internal tea. Obviously fresh basil leaves and unground seeds are the best to use when making a tea. If such is obtainable in your immediate area, bring 2 pints of water to a boil and add 15 basil seeds. Cover and reduce the heat, slowly simmering for about 45 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1-1/2 handfuls of fresh or half-dried basil and steep for another 25 minutes or so. Drink or gargle with this tea on the average of 2 cups per day as needed. When lukewarm, the strained tea can also be used to bathe the eyes. If ground basil is all that's available, another form of tea can be made and used for most of the previously described problems except as an eyewash. Bring 3- 1/2 cups of water to a boil; remove from heat and add 1-1/4 level teaspoons ground basil. Cover and steep for half an hour. Sweeten with a touch of pure maple syrup and drink on the average 1 cup twice daily.
Ever had a headache and needed a simple relief remedy? It's easy to prepare. Just take a level teaspoon of dried, ground basil and put into 1 cup hot water for 10 minutes, then strain. When the liquid is cool, add 2 tablespoons Tincture of Witch Hazel that's been previously refrigerated for a while. You can get the Witch Hazel tincture at your local drugstore or supermarket pharmacy section. Apply the solution as a compress to the forehead and temples, for relief you wouldn't believe possible!
PARTS USED
Leaves, flowering tops, essential oil.
USES
Sweet basil acts principally on the digestive and nervous systems, easing flatulence, stomach cramps, colic, and indigestion. Sweet basil can be used to prevent or relieve nausea and vomiting, and helps to kill intestinal worms. Sweet basil has a mildly sedative action, proving useful in treating nervous irritability, tiredness, depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Sweet basil may also be taken for epilepsy, migraine, and whooping cough. Sweet basil has been traditionally taken to increase breast-milk production. Applied externally, basil leaves act as an insect repellent. The juice from the leaves brings relief to insect bites. Sweet basil has an established antibacterial action.
Other Uses - Altitude sickness, Ovulation pain.
Bearberry
Bearberry or Uva Ursi is a small, evergreen shrub found in the northern U.S. and in Europe, especially in dry, sandy or gravelly soils. A single long, fibrous main root sends out several prostrate or buried stems from which grow erect, branching stems 4-6 inches high. The bark is dark brown or slightly reddish. The small leathery obovate to spatulate leaves are rounded at the apex, 1/2-1 inch long, and slightly rolled down at the edges. Fall is the best time to pick the leaves.
Bearberry is remarkable for reducing accumulations of uric acid in the body. Bearberry also relieves the extreme pain accompanying kidney and bladder stones and inflammation of the bladder itself. This is best accomplished by soaking a handful of fresh leaves in enough brandy to cover for one week, after which 1 tbsp. of these leaves, chopped or cut, are then simmered in 1 cup of boiling water for 20 minutes. Then before drinking when lukewarm, add a teaspoon of the brandy solution in which the leaves had been soaked to each cup of tea consumed.
Bearberry or manzanita is terrific for treating kidney problems. Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) and renal calculi (kidney stones) are overcome with a tea made from the berries and leaves of this plant. Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder) and urethritis in women (inflammation of the urethra) have been successfully treated using the same tea. It is the astringency of the tannin acid on the berries and leaves that makes them work so well in such medical conditions.
To make an all-purpose tea, bring a quart of water to a boil. Then add 3 tablespoons of dried, chopped berries and leaves. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 5 minutes. Turn off the stove and let the brew steep for a half hour. Strain one cup at a time and take when lukewarm on an empty stomach.
In folk medicine, bearberry is a diuretic and astringent for diseases of the bladder and kidneys. It is supposed to impart tone to the urinary passages and also to exert an antiseptic action there. This is supposed to render the drug practicable in various inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract such as urethritis, cystitis, etc. Bearberry contains about 5 to 12 percent of the phenolic glycoside arbutin, which hydrolyzes when taken to release hydroquinone, the principal antiseptic and astringent constituent of the plant. Ursolic acid, a triterpene derivative, and isoquercitrin, a flavonoid pigment, also contribute to the diuretic action. Bearberry contains large amounts (15 to 20 percent) of tannin, an undesirable constituent that tends to upset the stomach. Consequently, the leaves should not be extracted with hot water, as is normally the case in preparing a tea. Rather, it is better to pour cold water over them and allow them to stand twelve to twenty-four hours before drinking. This minimizes the tannin content of the beverage.
Arbutin, or more specifically, the hydroquinone derived from it, is a rather effective urinary antiseptic, but only if taken in large doses and if the urine is alkaline. This means that consumers should avoid eating acid-rich foods, including many fruits and their juices, sauerkraut, vitamin C, and similar products. Consumers must also be aware that hydroquinone, in large doses, is toxic and may cause ringing in the ears, vomiting, convulsions, and collapse. However, since the recommended dose of bearberry is 1 gram, three to six times daily (delivering an average of 400 to 800 mg arbutin daily), and doses as large as 20 grams have produced no adverse response in healthy individuals, there would seem to be minimal cause for concern. Bearberry is not recommended for children and pregnant or lactating women. If symptoms persist beyond two weeks, or worsen during treatment, medical advice is necessary.
Bearberry is an ingredient in practically all of the kidney- and bladder-type teas, large numbers of which are marketed in Europe. It appears to be a modestly effective urinary antiseptic and diuretic if properly employed. The wisdom of self-determining conditions in which it might prove helpful and then self-treating them is, of course, an individual matter.
PARTS USED
Leaves, berries.
USES
Bearberry is one of the best natural urinary antiseptics. Bearberry has been used extensively in herbal medicine to disinfect and astringe the urinary tract in cases of acute and chronic cystitis and urethritis. However, bearberry is not a suitable remedy if there is a simultaneous infection of the kidneys.
Other Uses - Prostatitis, Urinary incontinence.
Blessed Thistle
Blessed thistle is a very useful herb for women. Blessed thistle can be taken to relieve painful periods, and for menstrual headaches. As an emmenagogue blessed thistle will help bring on suppressed periods (and so should be avoided during pregnancy). Blessed thistle can be helpful during problems with the menopause, such as heavy bleeding. The bitters in blessed thistle enhance the appetite and aid digestion, while stimulating the liver and the flow of bile. Blessed thistle is a good remedy for anorexia, indigestion, wind, colic and any condition associated with a sluggish liver such as headaches, lethargy and irritability. Its astringent action is useful for treating diarrhea.
The bitters have been shown to have an antimicrobial action, useful for enhancing the function of the immune system. Blessed thistle has also been shown to act as an antineoplastic, hindering the formation of abnormal cells, useful in cancer treatment. Blessed thistle also has diuretic properties and when taken in hot infusion is a useful diaphoretic for fevers and an expectorant for chest problems. Blessed thistle can be used to staunch bleeding of cuts, and speed healing of wounds. Blesses thistle also acts as an antiseptic.
Blessed thistle was widely used during medieval times. Frequent mention of its uses were made in some of the great herbals of that era (Gerard's Herbal in 1597 and Turner's Herbal in 1568). This particular herb had religious connotations surrounding it, hence other common names for it like "holy thistle" or "Holy Ghost herb." Blessed thistle apparently helped to relieve pain and inflammation of the heart in the 16th and 17th centuries. William Shakespeare recommends "laying it to your heart" because it "helpeth that doth hurt and annoye the hart," in his play, Much Ado about Nothing. Blessed thistle is found in moist areas, waste places, meadows and pastures.
Blessed thistle is one of the best medicines for promoting breast milk in nursing mothers. To make a tea for this and also improve the heart, just bring 1 pint of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1-1/2 level tablespoons of cut, dried herb. Let steep for 45 minutes. Strain and drink warm, 1 cup at a time about half an hour before nursing an infant. Or for convenience, a mother may wish to take the herb in the powdered form, 2 capsules three times daily during the nursing period. Powdered herb for the tea may be purchased by mail order from Indiana Botanic Gardens in Hammond or in capsule form under the Nature's Way label from any local health food store. A good blend of this and other herbs for increasing milk flow is available from Old Amish Herbs under the name Thistle Milk.
Blessed thistle is still very popular in the Black Forest of Bavaria in southern Germany for liver problems and digestive disturbances. There it is taken in 1 teaspoon doses as a fluid extract. A similar dosage can be made easily by combining 1-1/2 tablespoons of powdered blessed thistle in 1-1/2 cups of brandy or vodka. Let stand for two weeks in a pint jar, shaking vigorously each day. Then strain material and put into another jar and store in a coot, dry place. A teaspoon of this extract can be added to 4 fluid ounces of distilled water and taken on an empty stomach.
PARTS USED
Leaves, flowering tops.
USES
Holy thistle is a good bitter tonic, stimulating the secretions of the stomach, intestines, and gallbladder. Holy thistle is taken for minor digestive complaints. Holy thistle has also been a treatment for intermittent fevers .Holy thistle is mildly expectorant and is also antibiotic. Holy thistle makes a healing balm for wounds and sores.
CAUTIONS In excessive doses, holy thistle may cause vomiting. It is subject to legal restrictions in some countries
Borage
Borage is an annual plant more common to European and Mediterranean countries than it is here, but is cultivated in some places and pretty well known by many North American herbalists. Strangely enough, an herb with such marvelous healing properties grows well in junkyards and waste places, but is much more difficult to grow in tidy gardens and "perfect" nurseries.
To handle the plant, gloves are a requirement because of the white, stiff, prickly hairs covering both leaves and stems. Borage gets about two feet tall and bears blue or purplish, star-shaped flowers during the summer months.
The original common name for this herb was "burrage" or "llanwenlys" from the Welsh, which signifies "Herb of Gladness." One ancient Welsh herbalist informs us of "those of our time who do use the flowers in salets to exhilerate and make glad the minde when depressed. There be also many things made of them, used everywhere for the comfort of the harte, for driving away sorrows and increasing the joie of the mind and spirit."
Since ancient times, borage has had a reputation for dispelling melancholy and fostering courage. Its name may come from a corruption of corago, "I bring courage." Or it may derive from another Latin word, burra, which means "a flock of wool"- perhaps reference to the plant's hairy leaves and stems. Some plant historians feel that the herb's name may have originated from the Celtic word barrach meaning "a man of courage." The Welsh call borage the "herb of gladness." The Romans made borage flowers into an elixir which Pliny said had the power to lighten spirits, and in Elizabethan England borage was prescribed for melancholy.
Borage, a hardy annual, is also nicknamed "bee's bread" because of the bees that pollinate it and love to hover around its flowers. The actual color of borage stems and leaves is dark blue-green, but prickly white hairs covering the whole plant give it a silvery cast. The stems are hollow and succulent; the leaves are alternate, wrinkled, and about 3 inches long. Its beautiful blue, star like flowers are accented with black anthers. Borage is a lovely plant which usually grows to about 1 1/2 feet high. Its branches can extend out to a width of about 3 feet, creating a wonderful rounded shape. Borage, which likes to grow with strawberries and looks attractive planted among other herbs and flowers, is thought to help discourage insects from attacking nearby plants.
The herb is believed to have originated in northwestern Syria, but now borage grows in many parts of Europe and the United States, both in gardens and marginal areas. Borage can be planted from seed when the danger of frost is past. After the first seeding, it will self-sow abundantly, and the new plants can be thinned or transplanted. Transplant borage carefully when it is still quite young. A single plant will spread over a 4-foot-square area, so allow borage transplants plenty of room to expand. With enough soil undisturbed around its roots, and careful handling, borage will flourish in a new place in the garden. Borage prefers a loose, well-aerated soil that is moist and fairly rich, although it will grow in less favored soils, too. Composted manure should be added to the soil where borage grows. Mulching the borage bed when the young plants are a few weeks old will provide the moist environment this herb prefers.
You can gather selected leaves and flowers for fresh use throughout borage's growing season. To harvest leaves for medicinal use, gather them before the plant flowers and dry them, taking care not to expose them to heat. Borage leaves discolor and lose their viable healing qualities unless they are dried in a place that is warm with plenty of circulating air. You can gather flowers at blooming time, and dry them in the same way.
Medicinally, borage has a calming and cooling effect and can help break fevers. In Europe, borage tea has been used traditionally as a strengthening tonic for convalescing patients. American herbalist William LeSassier suggests that borage is a good herb for people with high blood pressure, or those who are apprehensive or worry a lot.
Versatile borage has a gastronomical dimension to it, too. The plant was enjoyed In the Middle Ages and centuries later as a popular salad herb. Even today; savvy cooks know that the young leaves and flowers lend a refreshing flavor to salads. An infusion of borage leaves can be served cold as a beverage tea, decorated with the gorgeous, sky blue flowers. Borage flowers can also be candied and used to decorate special desserts and confections. Borage is often described as having a cucumber like taste. This is somewhat true, but it's much the same as describing something as tasting "like chicken."
Borage is a cooling, cleansing herb used for detoxifying the system and for any condition associated with heat and congestion. Borage increases sweat production, and has a diuretic action, hastening excretion of toxins via the skin and the urinary system. Borage tea can be taken to clear skin problems, such as boils and rashes, for arthritis and rheumatism, during infections and to bring down a fever. Borage is also good for clearing children's eruptive diseases such as measles and chickenpox, and for feverish colds, coughs and flu. Borage has a decongestant and expectorant action in the respiratory system and makes an excellent remedy for catarrh, sore throats and chest infections. The mucilage in borage soothes any sore, irritated condition of the throat and chest. It has the same action in the urinary system and the digestive system, making it useful for gastritis and irritable bowel syndrome. The leaves and seeds increase milk supply in nursing mothers.
Borage has an ancient reputation as a heart tonic; it calms palpitations and revitalizes the system during convalescence and exhaustion. Borage has a relaxing effect and is said to give courage and help relieve grief and sadness. Borage stimulates the adrenal glands which can prove valuable in countering the effects of steroids and helpful when weaning off steroid therapy to encourage the adrenal glands to produce their own steroid hormones. Borage is also useful during the menopause when the adrenal glands take over estrogen production. These properties are also present in the seeds which contain gamma linoleic acid.
PARTS USED
Aerial parts, flowers, seed oil.
USES
With its high mucilage content, borage is a demulcent and soothes respiratory problems. Its emollient qualities make it helpful for sore and inflamed skin - prepared either as freshly squeezed juice, in a poultice, or as an infusion. The flowers encourage sweating, and the leaves are diuretic. The seed oil is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fats and is superior in this respect to evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis). Borage seed oil is used to treat premenstrual complaints, rheumatic problems, eczema, and other chronic skin conditions.
Other uses - Lung cancer, Prostate cancer.
