The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook_ A Home Manual - James Green [16]
St. John’s Wort is nervine. Taken internally, it has a sedative and pain-relieving effect appropriate for treating neuralgia, anxiety, and tension, and any irritable and anxious effects of menopausal changes. As an anti-depressant, it is highly recommended for treatment of melancholia or “the blues.” As an astringent, it is used externally as an oil or salve. It is a valuable healing vulnerary and anti-inflammatory remedy for nerve injuries, muscular bruises, painful wounds, swelling, varicose veins, and mild burns.
Scullcap is a nerve tonic, having a mild sedative, anti-spasmodic edge. It is especially appropriate as a primary nervous system tonic and relaxant for stalwart individuals who have fiery emotions that promote nerve and muscle tension. This plant is also used specifically in the treatment of seizure, hysterical states, and epilepsy, as well as for general muscular and nervous irritability and tension. It is also well used where there is nervous disorder that develops twitching, tremors, restlessness, or irregular muscular action. As a cardiac relaxant, it is useful in sedating heart imbalances caused by overactive nerves; bitter.
Valerian is primarily a nervine tonic. It is helpful to know Valerian has a stimulating, warming nature which does not work well for those who tend to have too great a blood flow to the brain, and too great a nerve force already. Rather, Valerian, having a warming and stimulating effect on the body, is a remedy used better for a nervousness and irritability that comes secondarily to deficiency. It is best used in people with poor blood circulation in general, but particularly poor circulation to the brain and nervous centers. It is well used for anxiety, despondency, and nervousness in individuals whose face and skin look pale and lifeless, and the skin and body is cool. It is a particularly useful remedy when there is intestinal tension leading to gas, cramps, constipation, or irritable bowel type conditions. For a tonic effect, it should be taken as a fresh plant extract. This plant is also hypotensive and is used as a relaxing remedy in hypertension and stress-related heart problems. As a hypnotic it is well known to improve sleep quality, especially amongst those who consider themselves to be poor sleepers. Besides its wonderful relaxing effects, Valerian is also anti-spasmodic and emmenagogue. It is a suitable remedy for excessive caffeine intake.
Vitex (Chasteberry) is a uterine tonic which stimulates and normalizes pituitary gland functions, especially its progesterone-stimulating function, and therefore acts to normalize the activity of female sex hormones. This is the basis for its use in everything from PMS and recovery from taking birth control pills, to dysmenorrhea and menopause. It is used to stabilize the ovulation cycle. It is well used to help reduce the undesirable symptoms of menopause and is helpful in irregular menstruation, especially if accompanied by endometriosis. It helps relieve hormonally related constipation, and can assist in the control of acne in teenagers.
Willow is an ancient analgesic remedy used for its pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory effects. In various forms, it has been employed to relieve the discomforts of headache, cold, flu, fever, gout, and the aches and pains of all description.
Yarrow is one of the best of the diaphoretic herbs, making it a standard remedy for reducing fever. It is used for treating hypertension. This action is attributed to its vaso-dilating and diuretic properties. As a tonic, this herb’s main uses are as an astringent, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and a diuretic remedy for the genito-urinary system. It is used as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, and bitter tonic in the gastrointestinal system, where it can help normalize irritated and inflamed states of the digestive tract, as its volatile oils contain similar