ECHINACEA TEA (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea)

Echinacea - the coneflower - is a native American medicinal plant. Only the 3 above listed species above are used for medicinal puposes.

Benefits and uses:
Echinacea contains several chemicals that play a role in its therapeutic effects. These include polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids.

The above ground parts of Echinacea purpurea are used to shorten the common cold and flu and reduce symptoms of colds. Upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and slow healing wounds are also treated with above ground parts.

The root of the Echinacea pallida plant is used for the treatment of flu like infections. Many Echinacea products sold in North America contain one, two, or even all three plant types.

Several studies suggest that Echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. Professional herbalists may recommend Echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections, athlete's foot, sinusitis, hay fever, as well as slow healing wounds.

To make Echinacea Tea use 1 to 2 grams dried root or herb for each cup.

Echinacea is considered to be a safe herb if taken as directed. Echinacea should not be taken longer than eight weeks at a time. It loses its effectiveness after eight consecutive weeks regular use, so "break" periods should be taken to reenhance the effectiveness of the Echinacea Herbal Tea.

ECHINACEA IN THE NEWS - EXPLORING ECHINACEA'S ENIGMATIC ORIGINS

ELDERBERRY TEA (Sambucus Nigra)

Native to Europe (Sambucus Nigra) and North America (Sambucus Canadensis), Elderberry is a tree like shrub. It produces serrated leaves, delicate flowers and juicy berries that are used for their beneficial herbal properties.

Elderberries have been used for hundreds of years and are well known for healing both body and spirit.

They are primarily used to treat cold and flu symptoms. This herbal remedy is excellent in the removal of excess mucus in the respiratory passages. Elderberry Tea may also be used as a diaphoretic to break fevers, urinary complaints, edema, rheumatic complaints, and muscle pain. The benefits are derived from it's flavonoids, and a richness in vitamin C.

Elderberry Tea can be made from the berries or the Elderberry flowers. To make a good tasting cup of Elderberry Tea, is by the infusion method. Place one tea bag into a cup and add no more than 6 oz. of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes and remove the bag. Press the bag before removing to enhance the flavour. Honey may be added as a sweetner.

*Warning, you should only buy commercially prepared Elderberry products, since the berries, when unripe or raw, and much of the plant can be poisonous.

The use of stems and leaves of the Elderberry should be avoided. Also pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use Elderberry.*

ESSIAC TEA

Essiac was given its name by Ontario Nurse Rene M. Caisse (1888-1978) in 1922, when one of her patients claimed to have recovered from breast cancer by taking an Indian herbal tea developed by an Ojibwa medicine man. ("Essiac" is Caisse spelled backwards).

Essiac Tea is a blend of herbal roots in native Canadian Ojibwa medicine. It contains greater burdock root (Arctium lappa), slippery elm inner bark (Ulmus rubra, formerly known as Ulmus fulva), sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella), and Indian rhubarb root (Rheum officinale). Four other herbs in smaller amounts are also found in the Essiac recipe. They are kelp, red clover, blessed thistle and watercress.

Essiac Tea is said to remove heavy metals, detoxify the body, restore energy levels, and rebuild the immune system. It's said to relieve pain, increase appetite, reduce tumor size, and extend survival in cancer patients. Other claims are that it cleanses the blood, promotes cell repair.

The different herbs are claimed to relieve inflammation, lubricate bones and joints, stimulate the stomach, and eliminate excess mucous in organs, tissues, lymph glands, and nerve channels.

It aids the body to defeat illness using its own resources. Essiac and Flor Essence are also used to treat acquired immunodificiency syndrome (AIDS) and a variety of digestive system problems.

Although there have been many testimonials, there have been no clinical trials testing the effectiveness of Essiac.

EUROPEAN MISTLETOE TEA (Viscum album)

The berries of both the American and European Mistletoe have long been considered poisonous and are generally used as a Christmas decoration.
The leaves though, in the form of a tea, have a considerable reputation as a home remedy.American Mistletoe is believed to stimulate smooth muscles, causing a rise in blood pressure and increased uterine and intestinal contractions. European Mistletoe has precisely the opposite reputation of reducing blood pressure and acting as an antispasmodic and calmative agent.

European Mistletoe Tea is chiefly used to lower blood pressure and heart rate, ease anxiety, and promote sleep. In low doses Mistletoe also said to relieve panic attacks, headaches, and improves concentration. European Mistletoe is also prescribed for tinnitus and epilepsy. In anthroposophical medicine, extracts of the berries are injected to treat cancer. Beware, parts of the Mistletoe can be toxic, get your European Mistletoe Tea from a reputable source.

EVENING PRIMROSE (Oenothera Biennis)

Evening Primrose is known by many names, Fever plant, Great Evening Primrose, King's cure all, Night willow herb, Scabish, Scurvish and Tree Primrose to list a few. Used in by North American Natives for centuries and brought to Britain and the rest of the world by settlers.

Evening Primrose is a North American native biennial plant which grows about five feet in height.The flowers open in the evening and close during the day, hence the name.

The entire plant is edible, with the roots, flowers, buds and seed pods being utilized most. Evening Primrose Oil is by pressing oil from the tiny seeds and usually put into capsules. The seeds of Evening Primrose can be ground and used the same as flax seed. The leaves can cooked and eaten as greens, the roots boiled like potatoes, and the Primrose flowers can be added to salads.

Benefits and uses:
Evening Primrose seeds contain the Gamma Linoleinc Acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid. This fatty acid is said to help prevent hardening of the arteries, lowering cholesterol levels, heart disease, high blood pressure, eczema, cirrhosis of the liver, menopause, PMS, multiple sclerosis, and help relieve pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Evening Primrose Oil has been shown effective in women's health, easing menopausal and PMS symptoms, as well as relieving breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle.

It can give a boost to the estrogen and testosterone hormones in the body and have a positive effect on the uterine muscles.

A finely ground powder made from the flowering stems is used cosmetically in face masks to relieve skin reddening.

When Primrose Oil and fish oil (omega-3) are used together, blood pressure and cholesterol levels can lowered even more. Consult your health care provider if using as part of a health treatment.

Cautions:
Evening primrose oil is considered safe and well tolerated by most people. Rare side effects include nausea, headache and diarrhea.

Consult your health care provider if also taking drugs that reduce blood clotting, such as aspirin. Evening Primrose Oil is also less effective if taking beta blockers used to treat high hypertension.

Individuals taking phenothiazines (chlorpromazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, promazine, and thioridazine) to treat schizophrenia should not take EPO because it may interact with these medications and increase the risk of seizures.

Note: Evening Primrose Oil products should be kept in the refrigerator and out of direct sunlight to prevent the oil from becoming rancid. It should also be marked with a freshness date.

TEA
Evening Primrose Root Tea can be used to treat obesity. Evening Primrose Tea can also be used to help with alcoholism, arthritis, asthma, cough, sugar regulation, migraines and pre menstrual syndrome.

Evening Primrose herb medicinal tea is made from the crushed roots of plant. Evening Primrose tea is sold in most Health food stores, honey can be added to improve its flavour.

---

Enter your search terms Submit search form   Web heartvigor.com