Descript : Asarabacca appears like an evergreen, keeping its leaves all the Winter, but putting forth new ones in the time of Spring. It has many heads rising from the roots, from whence come many smooth leaves, every one upon his foot stalks, which are rounder and bigger than Violet leaves, thicker also, and of a dark green shining colour on the upper side, and of a pale yellow green underneath, little or nothing dented about the edges, from among which rise small, round, hollow, brown green husks, upon short stalks, about an inch long, divided at the brims into five divisions, very like the cups or heads of the Henbane seed, but that they are smaller; and these be all the flower it carries, which are somewhat sweet, being smelled to, and wherein, when they are ripe, is contained small cornered rough seeds, very like the kernels or stones of grapes, or raisins. The roots are small and whitish, spreading divers ways in the ground, increasing into divers heads; but not running or creeping under the ground as some other creeping herbs do. They are somewhat sweet in smell, resembling Nardus, but more when they are dry than green; and of a sharp and not unpleasant taste.

Place : It grows frequently in gardens.

Time : They keep their leaves green all Winter; but shoot forth new in the Spring, and with them come forth those heads or flowers which give ripe seed about Mid-summer, or somewhat after.

Government and virtues : It is a plant under the dominion of Mars, and therefore inimical to nature. This herb being drank, not only provokes vomiting, but purges downwards, and by urine also, purges both choler and phlegm: If you add to it some spikenard, with the whey of goat’s milk, or honeyed water, it is made more strong, but it purges phlegm more manifestly than choler, and therefore does much help pains in the hips, and other parts; being boiled in whey, it wonderfully helps the obstructions of the liver and spleen, and therefore profitable for the dropsy and jaundice; being steeped in wine and drank, it helps those continual agues that come by the plenty of stubborn humours; an oil made thereof by setting in the sun, with some laudanum added to it, provokes sweating (the ridge of the back being anointed therewith), and thereby drives away the shaking fits of the ague. It will not abide any long boiling, for it loseth its chief strength thereby; nor much beating, for the finer powder provokes vomits and urine, and the coarser purgeth downwards.

The common use hereof is, to take the juice of five or seven leaves in a little drink to cause vomiting; the roots have also the same virtue, though they do not operate so forcibly; they are very effectual against the biting of serpents, and therefore are put as an ingredient both into Mithridite and Venice treacle. The leaves and roots being boiled in lye, and the head often washed therewith while it is warm, comforts the head and brain that is ill affected by taking cold, and helps the memory.

I shall desire ignorant people to forbear the use of the leaves; the roots purge more gently, and may prove beneficial to such as have cancers, or old putrefied ulcers, or fistulas upon their bodies, to take a dram of them in powder in a quarter of a pint of white wine in the morning. The truth is, I fancy purging and vomiting medicines as little as any man breathing doth, for they weaken nature, nor shall ever advise them to be used, unless upon urgent necessity. If a physician be nature’s servant, it is his duty to strengthen his mistress as much as he can, and weaken her as little as may be.

by Bobbie Grennier, Master Herbalist

Valerian grows wild throughout Europe. The use of this plant for insomnia and nervous conditions has been common for many centuries. Valerian is known world wide for its calming effect on the nervous system. Unlike many prescription drugs used for anxiety, valerian has few side effects and is not addictive. The actual active principle of valerian is uncertain.

Possible benefits and uses:

Reduces anxiety, stress, and hyperactivity
Works as a natural tranquilizer
Relieves gas pain and stomach cramps
Eliminates muscle tension and muscle cramps related to PMS, stress, and menstrual cramps
Contraindications:

Should not be taken with alcohol
About the Author: Bobbie Grennier is a freelance writer and master herbalist. She publishes several blogs, but you’re most likely to be interested in her Master Herbalist Blog. Visit her web sites http://www.natural-healers.com or http://www.master-herbalist.com for more herbalist healer information or more FREE herbal reprint articles.

THE hot Arssmart is called also Waterpepper, or Culrage. The mild Arssmart is called dead Arssmart Persicaria, or Peachwort, because the leaves are so like the leaves of a peach-tree; it is also called Plumbago.

Description of the mild : This has broad leaves set at the great red joint of the stalks; with semicircular blackish marks on them, usually either bluish or whitish, with such like seed following. The root is long, with many strings thereat, perishing yearly; this has no sharp taste (as another sort has, which is quick and biting) but rather sour like sorrel, or else a little drying, or without taste.

Place : It grows in watery places, ditches, and the like, which for the most part are dry in summer.

Time : It flowers in June, and the seed is ripe in August.

Government and virtues : As the virtue of both these is various, so is also their government; for that which is hot and biting, is under the dominion of Mars, but Saturn, challenges the other, as appears by that leaden coloured spot he hath placed upon the leaf.

It is of a cooling and drying quality, and very effectual for putrefied ulcers in man or beast, to kill worms, and cleanse the putrefied places. The juice thereof dropped in, or otherwise applied, consumes all colds, swellings, and dissolveth the congealed blood of bruises by strokes, falls, &c. A piece of the root, or some of the seeds bruised, and held to an aching tooth, takes away the pain. The leaves bruised and laid to the joint that has a felon thereon, takes it away. The juice destroys worms in the ears, being dropped into them; if the hot Arssmart be strewed in a chamber, it will soon kill all the fleas; and the herb or juice of the cold Arssmart, put to a horse or other cattle’s sores, will drive away the fly in the hottest time of Summer; a good handful of the hot biting Arssmart put under a horse’s saddle, will make him travel the better, although he were half tired before. The mild Arssmart is good against all imposthumes and inflammations at the beginning, and to heal green wounds.

All authors chop the virtues of both sorts of Arssmart together, as men chop herbs for the pot, when both of them are of contrary qualities. The hot Arssmart grows not so high or tall as the mild doth, but has many leaves of the colour of peach leaves, very seldom or never spotted; in other particulars it is like the former, but may easily be known from it, if you will but be pleased to break a leaf of it cross your tongue, for the hot will make your tongue to smart, but the cold will not. If you see them both together, you may easily distinguish them, because the mild hath far broader leaves.

To put a gloss upon their practice, the physicians call a herb (which country people vulgarly know by the name of Dead Nettle) Archangel; whether they favour more of superstition or folly, I leave to the judicious reader. There is more curiosity than courtesy to my countrymen used by others in the explanation as well of the names, as description of this so well known herb; which that I may not also be guilty of, take this short description: first, of the Red Archangel. This is likewise called Bee Nettle.

Descript : This has divers square stalks, somewhat hairy, at the joints whereof grow two sad green leaves dented about the edges, opposite to one another to the lowermost, upon long foot stalks, but without any toward the tops, which are somewhat round, yet pointed, and a little crumpled and hairy; round about the upper joints, where the leaves grow thick, are sundry gaping flowers of a pale reddish colour; after which come the seeds three or four in a husk. The root is small and thready, perishing every year; the whole plant hath a strong smell but not stinking.

White Archangel hath divers square stalks, none standing straight upward, but bending downward, whereon stand two leaves at a joint, larger and more pointed than the other, dented about the edges, and greener also, more like unto Nettle leaves, but not stinking, yet hairy. At the joints, with the leaves, stand larger and more open gaping white flowers, husks round about the stalks, but not with such a bush of leaves as flowers set in the top, as is on the other, wherein stand small roundish black seeds; the root is white, with many strings at it, not growing downward but lying under the upper crust of the earth, and abides many years increasing; this has not so strong a scent as the former.

Yellow Archangel is like the White in the stalks and leaves; but that the stalks are more straight and upright, and the joints with leaves are farther asunder, having longer leaves than the former, and the flowers a little larger and more gaping, of a fair yellow colour in most, in some paler. The roots are like the white, only they creep not so much under the ground.

Place : They grow almost everywhere (unless it be in the middle of the street), the yellow most usually in the wet grounds of woods, and sometimes in the dryer, in divers counties of this nation.

Time : They flower from the beginning of the Spring all the Summer long.

Government and virtues : The Archangels are somewhat hot and drier than the stinging Nettles, and used with better success for the stopping and hardness of the spleen, than they, by using the decoction of the herb in wine, and afterwards applying the herb hot into the region of the spleen as a plaister, or the decoction with spunges. Flowers of the White Archangel are preserved or conserved to be used to stay the whites, and the flowers of the red to stay the reds in women. It makes the head merry, drives away melancholy, quickens the spirits, is good against quartan agues, stancheth bleeding at mouth and nose, if it be stamped and applied to the nape of the neck; the herb also bruised, and with some salt and vinegar and hog’s-grease, laid upon a hard tumour or swelling, or that vulgarly called the king’s evil, do help to dissolve or discuss them; and being in like manner applied, doth much allay the pains, and give ease to the gout, sciatica, and other pains of the joints and sinews. It is also very effectual to heal green wounds, and old ulcers; also to stay their fretting, gnawing, and spreading. It draws forth splinters, and such like things gotten into the flesh, and is very good against bruises and burnings. But the Yellow Archangel is most commended for old, filthy, corrupt sores and ulcers, yea although they grow to be hollow, and to dissolve tumours. The chief use of them is for women, it being a herb of Venus.

Quinine (Cinchona)

The Quinine chemical is found in the Cinchona bark and has been reported to increase warfarin which is a blood-thinner.

Uses: malaria, acute fever, neuralgia, muscle cramps, cardiac fibrillation.

Excess causes: cinchomism, headache, rash, abdominal pain, deafness, blindness.

In homeopathy known as China officialis for nervous exhaustion, anemia and convalescence.

Used as a bitter to flavor tonic water.

What environmental contaminants are inside you or around you every day?

Scientists refer to the suite of environmental contaminants in people as their “body burden”. It is the consequence of lifelong exposure to industrial chemicals that are used in thousands of consumer and industrial products process, and which linger as contaminants in air, water, food, and soil. Hundreds of chemicals contaminate drinking water, household air, dust, treated tap water and food. They come from pollution, and from household products like detergent, insulation, fabric treatments, cosmetics, paints, upholstery, computers and TVs, and they accumulate in fat, blood and organs, or are passed through the body in breast milk, urine, amniotic fluid, feces, sweat, semen, hair and nails

While the only true way to know what chemicals are contained in your body is to get a comprehensive test, the following broad lifestyle questions provide a “virtual” body burden profile.

Test can be found here: http://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden/usertest/

About the Author: Bobbie Grennier is an SEO copywriter and herbalist. She publishes several blogs, but you’re most likely to be interested in her Master Herbalist Blog. Visit her web sites http://www.natural-healers.com or http://www.master-herbalist.com for more herbalist healer information or more FREE herbal reprint articles.

Arrach, Wild And Stinking

CALLED also Vulvaria, from that part of the body upon which the operation is most; also Dog’s Arrach, Goat’s Arrach, and Stinking Motherwort.

Descript : This has small and almost round leaves, yet a little pointed and without dent or cut, of a dusky mealy colour, growing on the slender stalks and branches that spread on the ground, with small flowers set with the leaves, and small seeds succeeding like the rest, perishing yearly, and rising again with its own sowing. It smells like rotten fish, or something worse.

Place : It grows usually upon dunghills.

Time : They flower in June and July, and their seed is ripe quickly after.

Government and virtues : Stinking Arrach is used as a remedy to women pained, and almost strangled with the mother, by smelling to it; but inwardly taken there is no better remedy under the moon for that disease. I would be large in commendation of this herb, were I but eloquent. It is an herb under the dominion of Venus, and under the sign Scorpio; it is common almost upon every dunghill. The works of God are freely given to man, his medicines are common and cheap, and easily to be found. I commend it for an universal medicine for the womb, and such a medicine as will easily, safely, and speedily cure any disease thereof, as the fits of the mother, dislocation, or falling out thereof; cools the womb being over-heated. And let me tell you this, and I will tell you the truth, heat of the womb is one of the greatest causes of hard labour in child-birth. It makes barren women fruitful. It cleanseth the womb if it be foul, and strengthens it exceedingly; it provokes the terms if they be stopped, and stops them if they flow immoderately; you can desire no good to your womb, but this herb will affect it; therefore if you love children, if you love health, if you love ease, keep a syrup always by you, made of the juice of this herb, and sugar (or honey, if it be to cleanse the womb), and let such as be rich keep it for their poor neighbours; and bestow it as freely as I bestow my studies upon them, or else let them look to answer it another day, when the Lord shall come to make inquisition for blood.

CALLED also Orach, and Arage; it is cultivated for domestic uses.

Descript : It is so commonly known to every housewife, it were labour lost to describe it.

Time : It flowers and seeds from June to the end of August.

Government and virtues : It is under the government of the Moon; in quality cold and moist like unto her. It softens and loosens the body of man being eaten, and fortifies the expulsive faculty in him. The herb, whether it be bruised and applied to the throat, or boiled, and in like manner applied, it matters not much, it is excellently good for swellings in the throat: the best way, I suppose, is to boil it, apply the herb outwardly: the decoction of it, besides, is an excellent remedy for the yellow jaundice.

CALLED also Wind flower, because they say the flowers never open but when the wind blows. Pliny is my author; if it be not so, blame him. The seed also (if it bears any at all) flies away with the wind.

Place and Time : They are sown usually in the gardens of the curious, and flower in the Spring-time. As for description I shall pass it, being well known to all those that sow them.

Government and virtues : It is under the dominion of Mars, being supposed to be a kind of Crow-foot. The leaves provoke the terms mightily, being boiled, and the decoction drank. The body being bathed with the decoction of them, cures the leprosy. The leaves being stamped and the juice snuffed up in the nose, purges the head mightily; so does the root, being chewed in the mouth, for it procures much spitting, and brings away many watery and phlegmatic humours, and is therefore excellent for the lethargy. And when all is done, let physicians prate what they please, all the pills in the dispensatory purge not the head like to hot things held in the mouth. Being made into an ointment, and the eye-lids anointed with it, it helps inflammations of the eyes, whereby it is palpable, that every stronger draws its weaker like. The same ointment is excellently good to cleanse malignant and corroding ulcers.

by Bobbie Grennier, Master Herbalist

Muscle Testing based on the concept of internal energy, which is fundamental to traditional Chinese medicine. Muscle testing is a noninvasive method used to evaluate the body’s imbalances and assessing its needs.

Testing the muscles is all about testing the body’s responses when slight pressure is applied to the large muscles one at a time. This testing provides information about the body’s energy blockages, nutritional deficiencies, and food sensitivities. So, you can imagine it’s use in testing the body’s responses to herbs and herbal remedies.

When muscle testing, the person being tested is given an herb to hold or a food, if testing for an allergy. They are then asked to hold their arms out to each side away from their body. With the herb in one of their hands, the practitioner then pulls down on the person’s other arm with equal pressure for balance. If the person needs the herb or is not allergic to the food, the arm will remain strong against the pressure. If allergic or not in need of the herb, the arm will go weak and the person won’t be able to hold their arm in place against the pressure.

Muscle testing can also be used to determine how often each herb should be taken and how much each time.

Although not the same, sometimes muscle testing is referred to as Applied Kinesiology. Kinesiology is more the study of all human movement. Muscle testing is focused on the large muscles, usually but not limited to the arms.

Although muscle testing is simple, responses may be inconclusive if the person’s energy is blocked. Muscle testing requires a check of the body’s polarity, which reveals whether energy in the central meridian is flowing in the right direction. If not, it must be corrected before proceeding. Polarity checks are used with each product tested, to make sure the product does not interfere with a person’s polarity. The selected herbs are also tested as a group, because an herb may test well individually, but combining it with other herbs may produce a synergistic effect that reduces or eliminates the need for it.

As you can imagine, muscle testing is a wonderful way to help diagnose herbal remedies.

If you are new to herbalism and want to learn more about becoming a master herbalist, please visit our herbal education websites: http://herbal-college.com and http://master-herbalist.com.

About the Author: Bobbie Grennier is a freelance writer and master herbalist. She publishes several blogs, but you’re most likely to be interested in her Master Herbalist Blog. Visit her web sites http://www.natural-healers.com or http://www.master-herbalist.com for more herbalist healer information or more FREE herbal reprint articles.