Cascara Sagrada

(California Buckthorn) – (Rhamnus purshiana) Part used: Bark. Properties: Hepatic, laxative, antispasmodic. What it affects: Colon, stomach, liver, gallbladder and pancreas.

Preparation and amount: Decoction (bark): Simmer 5-15 min. Take 1 tsp. 3-4 times daily before meals or 1 cup during the day, cold. Tincture: Take 5-20 drops, morning and evening. Fluid extract: Take 1/2 - 1 tsp. at night before retiring. Syrup: Take 1/2 – 2 tsp. 2-3 times daily. Powder: Take 6-12 #0 capsules (10-100 grains) daily.

Purposes: Internally, cascara is one of the safest laxatives for chronic constipation. If used too much, it is habit forming. It is one of the best, commonest, and safest plant laxatives. It encourages peristalsis by irritating the bowels. The bitter principles in cascara stimulate the secretions of the entire digestive system – including the liver, gallbladder, stomach and pancreas.

• Cascara is excellent for intestinal gas, liver, and gallbladder problems, especially enlarged liver. It Is also used for gastric and intestinal disorders, indigestion and jaundice.

• In order to use it for its gentle, laxative effect, cascara is best taken not as a tea, but as tincture or in capsules. This is because it is so bitter. 

Note: The bark must be at least a year old before being used. Do not confuse cascara segrada (Rhamnus purshiana), sometimes called “buckthorn,” with buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula). They are both good, but different herbs.

Calendula (kalendula in tagalog)

(Calendula officinalis) Part used: Flower. Properties: Astringent, vulnerary, antispasmodic, diaphoretic. What it affects: Blood and skin.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 5-15 min. Take 1 Tbsp. each hour or 1 cup daily. Fluid extract: Take 1/2 - 1 tsp. 3 times daily. Powder: Take 3-10 #0 capsules (15-60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, calendula can be used as a non-irritating fomentation or salve for sores, burns, bleeding hemorrhoids and wounds. It reduces inflammation and is soothing to the skin. It is used internally as a warm infusion – to treat fevers, ulcers, cramps, and eruptive skin diseases. It has been successfully used a nasal wash for sinus problems.

• An infusion of the flowers (either the rays or the whole head) can be used for such gastro-intestinal problems as ulcers, stomach cramps, colitis and diarrhea. As a warm infusion, it is useful internally for fever, boils, abscesses, and to prevent recurrent vomiting. The fresh juice of the herb or flowers can substitute for the infusion.

• Calendula tincture helps gastritis and menstrual difficulties, vaginal infections, ulcers and cramps. An infusion can be used in treating smallpox and measles.

• The tea, made with 1 oz. of herb per pint of water, may be taken hourly for acute ailments. It is commonly used in making salves and is a very good first-aid remedy.

• Internally, Calendula can be used with oil in a slave or poultice in order to stop bleeding, soothe pain and irritation, and promote mending and healing of wounds. A very good salve for wounds can be made from the dried flowers or leaves, from the juice pressed out of the fresh flowers, or from the tincture. The salve or diluted tincture is also good for bruises, sprains, pulled muscles, sores and boils. To get rid of warts, rub on the fresh juice. The oil is put in ears and left overnight for earaches. A strong tea can be used as a sitz bath for bleeding hemorrhoids. A fomentation is good for varicose veins. It is also good for bee stings and skin ulcers. You can wash wounds with it.

Burdock (mores in tagalog)

(Arctium lappa) Part used: Root (especially), seeds and leaves. Properties: Root Alternative, diaphoretic, diuretic, demulcent. Seeds: Alternative, diuretic. Leaves: Tonic.

Preparation and amount: Infusion ( leaves): Take 1 cup 3-4 times daily. Decoction (root or seeds): 1 oz. root to 1½  pints water, boiled down to 1 pint. Take 3 oz. 3-4 times daily. Tincture: Take 30-60 drops 3-4 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 10-20 #0 capsules (60-120 grains) daily. Powder (leaves): Take 5-10 #0 capsules (30-60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, burdock is used to promote kidney function and works through the kidneys to help clear the blood of harmful acids. It is one of the best blood purifiers for chronic infection, rheumatism, arthritis, skin diseases and sciatica.

• Burdock is used for skin disorder, such as carbuncles and boils, relieves gout and menopausal problems. It aids elimination of excess fluid, uric acid and toxins; and it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It acts as an antioxidant and may help protect against cancer, by helping control cell mutation.

• The diaphoretic property of burdock is due to a volatile oil which, taken internally, is eliminated from the sweat glands, thus removing toxic waste. Sweating has a cooling effect on the body. So it is used to reduce fevers and heat conditions such as boils, sties, carbuncles, canker sores and infections. For this purposes, use 1/2 cup of the decoction 3 times daily. An infusion of the leaves is used as a stomach tonic and for indigestion.

• Burdock contains 27%-45 inulin, the source of most of its curative ability. Inulin is a form of starch. Burdock also has an abundance of iron, which makes it of special value for the blood. It is also a blood purifier. That is why it is so helpful in treating arthritis, rheumatism, sciatica and lumbago. When the seeds are made into a tincture or extract, they are good for skin and kidney diseases. It is excellent for all skin diseases, taken alone or with other blood purifiers, such as sarsaparilla. Take it internally for acne, boils, chicken pox, eczema, psoriasis. Make a decoction of the root, using 1 oz. to 1/2 pints of water, and simmer until the volume is reduced to 1 pint. Take 1/2 cup 3 times daily. For sweating, simmer in covered pan for 10 minutes; then drink 1 cup of the tea before taking a hot bath.

Externally, take it for boils, eczema, itching, poison ivy and poison oak.

Warning: May interfere with iron absorption, when taken internally.

Bugleweed

(Lycopus virginicus)  Part used: Whole herb. Properties: Astringent, sedative, tonic. What it affects: Heart, lungs and circulation.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 5-15 min. Take 6 oz. frequently. Tincture: Take 1/2 - 1 tsp. frequently. Fluid extract: Take 1/4 - 1 tsp. frequently. Powder: Take 5-10 #0 capsules (30-60 grains) frequently.

Purposes: Internally, bugleweed is especially good for hemorrhages from the lungs and bowels. It is excellent for heart diseases marked by irregular heartbeat (whether functional or organic). Because it acts like digitalis in quieting the pulse, it is useful for pericarditis and endocarditis. Bugleweed is also good for chronic inflammation of the lungs, all chest congestive diseases and coughs. In addition, it is used for conditions in which the blood flow needs to be reduced, such as reducing hemorrhoids, stopping intestinal bleeding, nosebleeds, excessive menstruation, or blood in the urine. When treating these conditions, it is best to add demulcent herbs to the mixture.

Buckthorn

(Rhamnus frangula) Part used: Bark. Properties: Hepatic, laxative, galactagogue, emollient. What it affects: Liver, gallbladder, intestines and blood.

Preparation and amount: Decoction: 1 oz. bark to 1 quart water, boiled down to 1 pint. Take as needed. Tincture: Take 5-60 drops 3 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 1/2 – 2 tsp. 3 times daily. Powder: Take 4-10 #0 capsules (20-60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally,  buckthorn is a purgative and works without irritating the system. It can be used for all conditions caused or associated with constipation, including liver and gallbladder problems. It produces no constipative backlash during purgation as some other remedies do; neither does it become less effective with repeated use. The decoction will produce sweating, when taken hot. Internally, it will keep the bowels regulated. It is helpful for colic, obesity, dropsy, hemorrhoids, rheumatism, gout and all skin diseases.

Externally, use buckthorn as a fomentation for dry or itchy skin problems and skin diseases. It is also used for warts.

Note: Do not confuse this buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula) with its relative, cascara sagrada (Ramnus purshiana), called “California buckthorn,” which is a different herb.

Warning: Fresh bark and unripe fruit can cause symptoms of poisoning. Storage for a year or heating to 212° F. will render the bark safe to use. Do not use during pregnancy.