Category: Herbs

According to folklore and homeopaths, broom relieves Irregular heartbeat the body of excess fluid, and causes bowel evacuation or vomiting. Before hops became a standard beer ingredient, broom was added to beer to enhance its taste and boost its intoxicating power

The crude drug is prepared from the twigs and flowers of Cytisus scoparlu, (Sarothamnus scoparius), a plant that has been naturalized from Europe to the United States and Canada. Although the German E Commission (which sees drug use in Germany ) considers broom effective in treating certain heart problems.

Common doses of Broom

Broom is available as root, cigarettes, teas, and extracts. Experts disagree on what dose to take.

Why people use Broom herb

• Constipation
• Fluid retention
• Irregular heartbeats
• To induce relaxation and euphoria
• To induce vomiting

Side effects of Broom

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of broom:

• headache
• irregular heartbeats
• mind-altering sensations (from smoking the plant parts)
• poisoning symptoms, such as shock, a fast pulse, confusion or other mental changes, vertigo, nausea, and diarrhea (when taken in high doses)
• uterine contractions.

Broom also can cause:

• fungal pneumonia (from smoking contaminated broom tops)
• miscarriage

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use broom if you’re taking:

• drugs that lower blood pressure
• heart drugs called beta blockers, such as Inderal
• other drugs used to treat heart conditions
• tricyclic antidepressants, such as Sinequan

Important points to remember

• Don’t use broom if you’re pregnant because it may cause miscarriage.
• Avoid this herb if you have high pressure or a serious heart condition.
• Avoid broom if you have pacemaker because it could interfere with pacemaker function.
• Don’t confuse this plant with Spanish broom, found in some foods and cosmetics.

What the research shows

A potentially dangerous herb, broom isn’t approved for any therapeutic use. Although it may have potential medicinal value, the risk of harm outweighs these purported benefits. Medical experts need more Information to analyze the risks and benefits of this herb. Safer and more effective drugs exist for every use that broom’s advocates claim.

Other names for Broom : –

Other names for broom include bannal, broom top, genista, ginsterkraut, hogweed, Irish broom top and Scotch broom top.

No known products containing broom are available commercially.

The borage plant (Borago officinalis) is a hardy annual that grows in Europe the eastern United States. The plant’s leaves, stems, flowers, and especially are used medicinally.

Borage leaves have been part of European herbal medicine for centuries. During medieval times, some people steeped the leaves and flowers in wino and drank thr concoction to dispel melancholy.

Common doses of Borage

Borage comes as softgel capsules (240, 500, and 1,300 milligrams of borage seed oil, which contains 20% to 26% gamma linolenic acid). Some experts recommend the following dose:

• As borage seed oil, 1.1 to 1.4 grams taken orally daily.

Why people use Borage herb

• As a expectorant
• Bronchitis
• Common cold
• Inflammation
• Melancholy
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Side effects of Borage

Call your health care practitioner if you experience unusual symptoms when using borage.

Ingesting 1 to 2 grams of borage seed oil can cause liver damage.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you’re taking.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use borage if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Avoid this herb if you have a liver disorder.
• Tell your health care practitioner you’re using borage. He or she may recommend periodic liver function studies to check for liver damage.

What the research shows

Most claims for borage stem from the fact that it seemed to relieve inflammation in animals and in small, uncontrolled or poorly controlled human studies. However, its exact role in therapy hasn’t been resolved and questions about its safety and effectiveness remain. Evidence doesn’t substantiate other claims for borage.

Other names for Borage : –

Other names for borage include beebread, common borage, common bugloss, cool tankard, ox’s tongue, and starflower

Products containing borage are sold under such names as Borage Oil and Borage Power.

Useful References

• http://luirig.altervista.org/flora/taxa/index1.php?scientific-name=borago+officinalis
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1007/s11746-003-0804-z
• https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/borage66.html

Native Americans used boneset to eliminate infection or disease through fever reduction, sweating, and bowel evacuation. They introduced the herb to the colonists, who adopted it to treat malaria and other diseases that cause fever. Boneset became popular during shortages of quinine, the main treatment for malaria at the time.

Boneset comes from the dried leaves and flowering tops of the perennial herb Eupatorium perfoliatum, which grows throughout much of the United States and parts of Canada. Some people claim it got its name from its alleged ability to relieve dengue (“breakbone”) fever. It was included in the United States Pharmacopeia, the legal compendium of drug standards, from 1820 to 1916 and the National Formulary from 1926 to 1950. However, the conventional medical community has never advocated its use. More recently, boneset has been included in homeopathic preparations and herbal mixtures sold in Europe and to practicing herbalists.

Common doses of Boneset

Boneset is available as a tea, an extract, and a topical cream. Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As an extract, 10 to 40 drops (2 to 4 grams of plant material) mixed in a liquid taken orally daily.
• As a tea, 2 to 6 teaspoons of crushed dried leaves and flowering tops steeped in 1 cup to 1 pint of boiling water.

Why people use Boneset herb

• Acute bronchitis
• As a expectorant
• As a sedative
• Fever
• Flu

Side effects of Boneset

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of bone set:

• allergic reaction
• diarrhea
• vomiting

Boneset also can cause liver damage.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you’re taking.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use this herb if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.

What the research shows

Although boneset has been used to reduce fever for more than 200 years, no clinical studies show that it’s effective for this purpose. A German study found no difference between aspirin and a homeopathic boneset remedy in relieving discomfort from the common cold.

Medical experts discourage medicinal use of boneset because they don’t know enough about its safety and effectiveness. And because proven remedies already exist for many of the herb’s claimed therapeutic uses, researchers aren’t likely to conduct more boneset studies.

Other names for Boneset : –

Other names for boneset include agueweed, crosswort, eupatorium, feverwort, Indian sage, sweating plant, throughwort and vegetable antimony.

A product containing boneset is sold as Catarrh Mixture.

Among the most popular medicinal plants in Chile, boldo comes from the leaves and bark of the boldo tree, Peumus boldus (Boldea boldus). Native to Chile and Peru, this small evergreen is naturalized to the Mediterranean region. Boldin part of the herb used medicinally-is also found in more than a dozen other or shrubs in the laurel, magnolia, and monimia families.

Fossilized boldo leaves more than 13,000 years old with human teeth Imprint have been found in Chile. Perhaps they were used medicinally by ancient Chileans or chewed simply for their pleasant, refreshing taste.

More than 60 preparations registered in various countries include boldo as an active ingredient. Chile exports about 800 tons of dried boldo leaves each year, mainly to Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, and Italy.

Common doses of Boldo

Boldo comes as a tea, a tincture, and an extract. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• As dried extract, 2.5 grams taken orally daily.

Why people use Boldo herb

• Common cold
• Constipation
• Digestive disorder
• Earache
• Fluid retention
• Gallbladder disorder
• Gonorrhea
• Gout
• Headache
• Intestinal gas
• Liver disorder
• Menstrual pain
• Syphilis
• Tapeworm, pinworm and other worm infection
• Weakness

Side effects of Boldo

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of boldo:

• exaggerated reflexes
• poor coordination
• seizures.

Large doses of boldo volatile oil may cause poisoning symptoms, including extremely slow breathing.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you’re taking.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use boldo if you have a central nervous system problem or respiratory disorder.
• Don’t use this herb if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Keep boldo preparations and plants out of children’s reach.

What the research shows

Some studies seem to validate claims for boldo’s use in digestive disorders. Also, recent findings about the herb’s antioxidant and liver -protectlng properties warrant additional investigation.

However, more studies must be done to determine its risks and benefits. Until boldo’s safety and effectiveness are established, medical experts can’t recommend the herb.

Other names for Boldo : –

Other names for boldo include boldine and boldo-do-chile.

Boldo is a minor ingredient in more than 60 preparations used mainly in South America and Europe.

Bogbean extract comes from the leaves of Menyanthes trifoliata, a plant native to European and North American swamps, marshes, and bogs. The fruit of M. trifoliata looks like a small bean; hence the name “bogbean.” Europeans use bogbean small amounts as a natural food flavoring.

Common doses of Bogbean

Bogbean comes as dried leaf, liquid extract, and tincture. Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As dried leaf, 1 to 2 grams in a tea taken orally three times a day.
• As extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol), 1 to 2 milliliters taken orally three times a day at mealtimes with plenty of juice or water.

Why people use Bogbean herb

• Constipation
• Fluid retention
• Fever
• Rheumatism
• Scurvy

Side effects of Bogbean

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of bog bean:

• bleeding
• nausea
• vomiting

Bogbean also can cause red blood cell destruction.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use bogbean when taking:

• blood thinners, such as heparin and Coumadin
• antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, Plavix, or Ticlid.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use bogbean if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Call your health care practitioner promptly if you experience unusual bleeding or bruising, abdominal pain, vomiting, or dizziness when using bogbean. Discontinue the herb if these symptoms persist.
• Be aware that ingesting bogbean may cause severe, prolonged nausea and vomiting.
• Keep bogbean fluid extract away from children to avoid poisoning.

What the research shows

Although animal studies indicate a few therapeutic uses for bogbbean, results from human studies aren’t available to justify its medicinal use. Also, questions about bogbean’s safety remain unanswered.

Other names for Bogbean : –

Other names for bogbean include buckbean, marsh trefoil, and water shamrock.

No known products containing bodbean are available commercially.

Used by Native Americans to induce vomiting and treat constipation, blue flag comes from Iris versicolor, a perennial found abundantly in swamps and 10 areas in eastern and central North America. When the plant isn’t In bloom, many people mistake it for sweet flag (Acorus calamus).

The herb’s rhizome (underground stem) has a peculiar odor and pungent, acrid taste. The United States Pharmacopoeia, a legal compendium of drug standards lists the rhizome of as an official pharmaceutical Ingredient.

Common doses of Blue flag

Blue flag comes as:

• powdered root (20 grains or 1,300 milligrams)
• solid extract (10 to 15 grains, or 650 to 975 milligrams)
• fluid extract (0.5 to 1 fluidrams, or 2.5 to 5 milliliters)
• tincture (1 to 3 fluidrams, or 5 to 15 milliliters)

Some experts recommend the following dose:

• As a laxative, 10 to 20 grains of the powdered root or solid extract, or 0.5 to 3 fluidrams of the fluid extract or tincture.

Why people use Blue flag herb

• Bruises
• Constipation
• Fluid retention
• Inflammation
• Liver disease
• Sores
• To induce vomiting
• To stimulate the bowel

Side effects of Blue flag

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of blue flag:

• headache
• mucous membrane irritation
• poisoning symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Ingesting fresh root preparations may cause severe nausea and vomiting.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Tell your health care practitioner about any prescription or nonprescription drugs you’re taking.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use blue flag if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Avoid taking this herb internally.
• Be aware that blue flag causes severe irritation if it contacts the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Keep all parts of this plant out of children’s reach.

What the research shows

Because blue flag is a known intestinal irritant and may pose a danger in some conditions, medical experts don’t recommend it for any disease. In fact, they advise people to avoid this herb until they know more about its risks and benefits.

Other names for Blue flag : –

Other names for blue flag include dagger flower, flag lily, liver lily, poison flag, snake lily, water lily and wild iris.

Products containing Blue flag are sold under such names as Iridin and Irisin.

Useful References

• https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/flag-root/profile

Blue cohosh comes from Caulophyllum thalictroldes, a plant with bright blue seeds that grows in the eastern United States and Canada. Its active Ingredient are extracted from the aerial parts, roots, and rhizomes (underground stems).

Common doses of Blue Cohosh

Blue cohosh comes as:

• dried powder
• tea
• tablets
• tinctures (1 ounce, 2 ounces)
• capsules (500 milligrams).

Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As dried rhizome or root, 0.3 to 1 grams three times daily.
• As liquid extract (1: 1 in 70% alcohol), 0.5 to 1 milliliters three times daily.

Why people use Blue Cohosh herb

• Muscle spasms
• Rheumatism
• Scant menstrual flow
• Seizures
• To include labor

Side effects of Blue Cohosh

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of blue cohosh:

• chest pain
• mucous membrane irritation from contact with the powdered extract
• severe diarrhea
• stomach cramps or upset
• symptoms of high blood pressure, such as headache, blurred vision, or seizures
• symptoms of high blood sugar, such as extreme thirst, frequent urination, rapid breathing, and a fast, weak pulse.

Children who ingest the seeds may experience poisoning.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use blue cohosh when taking:

• drugs used to lower blood pressure
• drugs used to treat angina (chest pain), such as Adalat, Calan, Cardizem, Inderal, nitroglycerin, Sorbitrate, or Vascor
• nicotine replacement products, such as Nicorette and Nicoderm

Important points to remember

• Don’t use blue cohosh if you’re pregnant because it may stimulate the uterus.
• Avoid this herb if you have heart disease.

What the research shows

Blue cohosh shows some promise in treating inflammatory diseases and In preventing pregnancy. However, it’s potentially toxic and may worsen some conditions. Before experts can recommend it, they must study it thoroughly to assess its risks and benefits.

Other names for Blue Cohosh : –

Other names for blue cohosh include blue ginseng, Caulophyllum, squaw root, pappoose root and yellow ginseng.

Products containing blue cohosh is sold as Blue Cohosh Root.

Useful References

• http://www.sisterzeus.com/BlueCoh.htm
• https://www.henriettes-herb.com/faqs/medi-3-7-abortives.html

Bloodroot is an ingredient (listed as sanguinarine) In certain toothpastes and rinses. Sanguinarine is extracted from the rhizome (underground stem) of Sanguinaria canadensis, a perennial plant native to North America. Although bloodroot used in homeopathic medicine, the Food and Drug Administration considers it safe in foods, beverages, and drugs.

Common doses of Bloodroot

Bloodroot comes as a tincture and an extract. Some experts recommend the following doses:

• As a tincture, 0.3 to 2 milliliters three times a day
• As an extract (1:1 in 60% alcohol), 0.06 to 0.3 milliliters three times a day.

Why people use Bloodroot herb

• Constipation
• Fugal growths
• Nasal polyps
• Ringworm
• Skin cancer
• To induce vomiting

Side effects of Bloodroot

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of bloodroot:

• headache
• irritation of the eye or mucous membranes (from contact with the root dust or components)
• nausea
• vomiting.

Excessive doses of bloodroot can cause:-

• low blood pressure
• shock
• coma.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use bloodroot when taking sanguinarine products containing zinc

Important points to remember

• This herb’s powdered rhizome (underground stem) and juice may destroy the tissues of human and other mammals.
• Don’t use bloodroot except under strict supervision and guidance of your dentist or other health care practitioner.
• Don’t use this herb if you’re pregnant.
• Use bloodroot cautiously and under medical supervision if you have a skin cut, abrasion, or healing tissue.

What the research shows

Most clinical data support the use of bloodroot (as sanguinarine) as an ingredient in toothpaste or oral rinses to control dental plaque. However, one study showed it had no benefit when used in combination with routine periodontal care (such as oral hygiene, scaling, and planing). Besides offering no advantage over routine periodontal care, sanguinarine may be dangerous if ingested orally.

Sanguinarine’s effectiveness against skin cancers, fungal infections, and nasal polyps hasn’t been proven in controlled clinical trials. Because oral ingestion of this substance has caused tissue destruction, experts don’t recommend.

Other names for Bloodroot : –

Other names for bloodroot include Indian paint, red puccoon, redroot and tetterwort

Products containing bloodroot are sold under such names as Lexat and Viadent.

Useful References

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007078571800431
• https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2010.0140
• https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.1108

With its high tannin content, black root has a bitter, nauseating taste. American settlers learned about the herb from Native American Indians. The Delaware Indians called it quitel. The Missouri and Osage Indians referred to it as hini. Early American doctors used black root to treat “bilious” fevers.

Black root is prepared from the dried roots and rhizome (underground stem) of Veronicastrum virginicum, which grows in Canada and the United States.

Common doses of Black root

Blackroot comes as dried root or tincture. Some experts recommend the following dose:

• To induce vomiting or to use as a laxative. 1 gram. To make a tea, mix 1 to 2 teaspoon of dried blackroot in . cold water, boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Drink I cup three times a day. When using the tincture, take 1 to 2 milliliters three times a day.

Why people use Black root herb

• Constipation
• Jaundice and other symptoms of liver congestion
• To induce vomiting

Side effects of Black root

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of blackroot:

• abdominal pain or cramps
• headache
• changes in stool color or odor
• nausea
• drowsiness
• vomiting.

Ingesting large amounts of dried black root tea leaves (1/2 pound of tea every 3 to 4 days) can cause liver damage.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use black root when taking:

• atropine
• iron-containing preparations
• Buscopan
• Lanoxin
• hyoscine
• Transderm-Scop

Important points to remember

• Don’t use black root if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Avoid taking large amounts of black root, especially if you have liver disease.
• If you have liver disease, be sure to tell your health care practitioner you’re using blackroot. He or she may order periodic liver function tests to check for liver damage.

What the research shows

Little Information is available about blackroot’s therapeutic uses or effectiveness. At this time, no evidence supports therapeutic claims for this herb.

Other names for Black root : –

Other names for blackroot include black root, bowman root, brinton root, Culver’s physic Culver’s root, high veronica, bini, Leptandra. Leptandra virginica. physic root, Veronica, and Veronica virginica.

No known product containing black root are available commercially.

Black Catechu was popular in the United States and abroad during the mid 80 and early 1900s. In some parts of the world, people still use it to treat diarrhea and prevent pregnancy.

Black catechu is prepared as a dried extract from the heartwood of Acacia catechu, a tree native to Burma and Eastern India and naturalized in Jamaica . The extract is prepared by boiling heartwood pieces in water, evaporating the mixture to a syrup, and cooling it to molds, which are then broken into pieces.

Don’t confuse black catechu with pale catechu, which comes from a different plant. Pale catechu is used in the dye industry and as a veterinary astringent.

Common doses of Black Catechu

Black catechu is available as:

• dry powder
• dried extract or liquid for oral use (0.3 to 2 grams)
• tincture
• local injection for hemorrhoids.

Some experts recommend the following doses:

• For oral use or by infusion (as a tea), 0.3 to 2 grams of the dried extract.
• As a tincture, 2.5 to 5 milliliters of a 1:5 dilution in 45% alcohol.

Why people use Black Catechu herb

• Birth control
• Chronic gonorrhea
• Cracked nipples
• Diarrhea
• Mouth ulcers
• Nosebleed
• Painless ulcers
• Sore gums

Side effects of Black Catechu

Call your health care practitioner if you experience any of these possible side effects of black catechu:

• constipation
• symptoms of low blood pressure, such as dizziness and weakness.

Using non standardized black catechu products that contain large amounts of inactive ash and aflatoxin (a fungal contaminant) can cause aflatoxin contamination, a condition associated with certain cancers.

Interactions

Combining herbs with certain drugs may alter their action or produce unwanted side effects. Don’t use black catechu when taking:

• Calan
• Captopril
• drugs that lower blood pressure
• drugs that suppress the immune system, such as Atgam, Imuran and Sandimmune
• narcotic pain relievers.

Also, tell your health care practitioner if you’re taking iron containing products, which aren’t compatible with black catechu.

Important points to remember

• Don’t use this herb if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Don’t use black catechu when taking drugs that suppress your immune system, such Atgam, Imuran, and Sandimmune.
• Be aware that this herb is known to cause cancer when consumed in the diet.
• Be aware that medical experts don’t know the long-term effects of chronic black catechu use.
• If have high blood pressure, take your blood pressure regularly when using this herb.
• Be aware that taking black catechu along with a drug that causes constipation (such as a narcotic pain reliever) may worsen constipation.
• If you have diabetes, be aware that this herb may cause your blood sugar to fall too low.

Don’t, rely on black catechu to prevent pregnancy.

What the research shows

Although black catechu has possible medical uses medical experts can’t recommend it for any condition until they know more about its risks and benefits. The herb hasn’t been clinically tested in humans and its value in treating chronic diarrhea hasn’t been proven. What’s more, researchers don’t know if black catechu is toxic.

Although some women with cracked nipples have used black catechu, scientists don’t know if these women were breast­feeding at the time and thus couldn’t determine whether the herb can harm breast-fed infants.

Other names for Black catechu : –

Other names for black catechu include acacia catechu, acacia di cachou, acacie au cachoul, amaraja, cake catechu, catechu, cutch, erh-ch’a, hai-erh-ch’a, kadaram, katechu akazie, katesu, khair, pegu katechu, and wu-tieh-ni.

Products containing black catechu are sold under such names as Diarcalm, Elixir Bojean, Enterodyne, Hemo Cleen, Katha, Shanti Bori (used in rural Bangladesh as an oral contraceptive component), and Spanish Tummy Mixture.