Herbs in Your Backyard

The very first thing I always do when I move or visit a new place is I immediately start identifying the various plants in the area. Many herbs can be growing in your backyard. However identification can be tricky and you need to make sure you know what you are looking for and at before using it for herbal medicine.

Here are some herbs found commonly in the United States that may be found in your backyard:

Plantain - Can be found during the summer in many parts of the U.S

Image from The Tortoise Table

Yarrow - Can be found in most temperate zones.

Image from wildeherb.com

Blackberry - Also called Bramble. Grows wildly in the South Eastern United States.

Image by Edible Landscaping

Blueberry - Also called Bilberry.

Image by Cabinorganic

Raspberry - While it resembles the blackberry there are a few differences that set the two apart.

Image by Cassingram.com

Echinacea - Native to North America it can be found all over and has been used for years by Native Americans.

Image by Eleanor Saulys

Goldenseal - If you do happen to find Goldenseal in your backyard it is strongly advised not to pick it as it is critically endangered in the wild.

Image by onlyfoods.net

American Ginseng - Can be found in North America, with the same effects as Asian Ginseng.

Image by herbs.org

Wild Carrot, or Queen Anne's Lace - Originally introduced from Europe, can now be found all over North America in ditches, dry fields, and open areas. WARNING: This looks very close to hemlock, a very poisonous plant, not advisable to pick with out absolute identification.

Image by flowersociety.org

Black Cohosh - Native to Eastern North America.

Image by Healing Natural Oils LLC

Dandelion - Found all over, an invasive weed and herb often used to aid digestion and promote a healthy liver.

Image by science.halleyhosting.com

St. John's Wort - Can be found from Minnesota to Central Texas

Image by loghouseplants.com

Slippery Elm - Primarily found in the northern more eastern part of North America.

Image by diverticulitisinfo.com

Milk Thistle- Can be found in fields across North America.

Image by herbalextractsplus.com

Make sure that you identify all herbs exactly before harvesting and check around to make sure these herbs aren't protected in your area as the case with Goldenseal some herbs can land you a hefty fine if picked from the wild.

Be safe and double check to make sure you are not picking up something poisonous!

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

Common Illnesses, Ailments, and Their Herbal Treatments

After running through the dosage, side effects, and drug interactions we can finally get to the actual treating of illness and ailment with herbal medicine.

This can be very tricky, and something extremely important to know is that you should NEVER self diagnose. For minor problems such as nausea or itchy skin, that don't appear to be linked to any more serious health issue, it shouldn't be a problem. However if you believe you might have something severe like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, it is of the utmost importance you go to your doctor first, and do NOT try to treat the possibly severe disease or illness yourself.

If you have already been diagnosed with a disease or ailment then talk to your doctor before using any herbal treatments to see if it will interact with any medications or the illness itself. If you are taking it for that particular illness, then make sure your doctor has approved, they may have you only take it under their supervision.

Always tell your doctor if you start taking any kind of supplement, as it may react negatively with any treatment you are currently going through or could go through in the future.

Now that that's out of the way. I have created a page to help you with the common ailments and illnesses as well as their herbal treatments.
← Check it out to the left.

Herbalism has been used long before modern medicine for a multitude of different illnesses and is still used to this day to treat many different problems.

The more common ones such as Cranberry for UTIs, Witch Hazel for skin problems, and Willow Bark for arthritis have been told over and over again.

While many of these are effective, still many more have either been proven ineffective for what they are said to treat or have no research to back up they have any effect for treating that illness.

Ginkgo for example was rather recently shown to have absolutely no effect for treating Alzheimer's or Dementia. The study was done by giving patients with these two diseases ginkgo daily, using a typical dosage and monitored their progress against a control group for the length of the study. What they found was absolutely no improvement.

Ginkgo does however improve blood flow throughout the body, which while makes it a bleeding risk, can make it a good alternative for people with clotting problems or men with Erectile Dysfunction.

Many herbs such as Comfrey and Aloe vera that are commonly used to treat burns, scrapes, and other various skin problems should not be ingested as they can cause damage to the liver and are potentially toxic to the body. So it is best to use them only topically if possible.

Do not ingest Essential Oil, it is not meant to be taken internally and should stay for topical use or aromatherapy. Certain oils can even cause contact dermatitis, so it is important to do a skin test first, by applying a little bit to a small patch of skin and monitoring it for 24 hrs to see if any reaction arises. If so, do not use that essential oil. This is the same process that should be used for all herbal treatments, as there can always be an allergic reaction.

I am so strongly emphasizing safety, because no "Natural" or "Alternative" Treatment or cure is worth bad side effects or severe allergic reaction. Stay safe, especially when making your own preparations and administering them yourself.

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

Common Herbal Side Effects

On yesterdays note I feel like I should further point out that herbs by themselves also have risks. While they may not be as common as pharmaceuticals, which is the main purpose many turn to herbal medicine, they still have their own side effects and dangers that should be mentioned and noted while you are doing your own research before taking a particular herb.

The biggest point I cannot stress enough is to look into an herb before taking it yourself, or go ask a professional for help and advice on what herbs might be best for you. Read the news and get the scoop on the herbs that may have more or less research to back them up.

It is important to note that anyone can have an allergic reaction to any herb. So if you have allergic reactions to plants such as ragweed, you may not want to take herbs like Echinacea or Chamomile as these may excite an allergic reaction.

I have compiled a short list of just some herbs with side effects to look out for. I've tried to include more commonly used herbs:

Ginkgo - As mentioned before Ginkgo can increase the risk of bleeding, so it is not good to take before surgery, if you have problems with blood not clotting, or diabetes.

St. John's Wort - Along with it's many drug interactions it also can cause increased depression and anxiety in some people, as well as sensitivity to light, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, and confusion. So this might not be a good alternative for many people.

Comfrey - Comfrey is meant to be used topically, however it can be taken orally, when done so however, it increases the risk for liver damage, and some studies suggest even cancer.

Licorice - Licorice root is a very popular herb, used for a long list of medical problems, as well as a flavoring for candy, soda, and other sweets. However in large dosages or to even certain people it can cause seemingly just as many health problems, including arrhythmia and hypertension.

Aloe vera - Yes, even one of the most used herbs has side effects. Besides the possibility of contact dermatitis when used topically. It is believed to cause problems when taken internally and it is often not advised as it has the potential to cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and it is believed to even have the potential to cause cancer.

Yohimbe - Often used for Impotence and Erectile dysfunction, it has a tendency to really get blood pumping. This is not always a good thing considering it has been suggested it causes rapid heart rate, hypertension and hypotension, various heart problems, and yes, even death.

Herbs can be dangerous if not taken properly which is why dosage is also very important. Many of these side effects are due to high dosages.

It is best to start out with the absolute smallest dosage and see how it works for you. If there is the potential for allergic reaction start with a very small amount, such as a single capsule, a small bit of ointment/cream on the skin and wait for 24 hours to make sure you don't have any kind of reaction. It might even be better to avoid herbs you can potentially have a reaction with altogether.

Just remember to be safe, use in increments in the beginning, and proper dosage is always important!

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

Medicinal Herbs and Drug Interactions

I'm going to talk today briefly about various drug interactions and what to think about before deciding what herbs are best to take. Like many pharmaceuticals, medicinal herbs also have interactions with other drugs.

The biggest two that seem to occur the most is interactions with anticoagulants or blood thinning drugs and diabetic medications. Many herbs tend to have affect these drugs by either making them not work properly, or increasing their effects (Which is not a good thing usually.)

There are also herbs that can make medications like contraceptives less effective, as well as increase the already known side effects of drugs such as the liver toxicity of acetaminophen. It is incredibly important to tell your doctor before you start using any kind of herbal supplement or medicine as it may effect the current medication you're on.

Here are just a few herbs that have drug interactions to watch out for when deciding what is best for you:

Black Cohosh - May increase the liver toxicity of medications such as acetaminophen, alcohol, and atorvastatin. These drugs are broken down by the liver and taking Black Cohosh while on these may allow them to build up in the liver causing liver problems. While this is more of a concern than an absolute fact, it's still better to be on the cautious side.

Cranberry - Taking Cranberry for a UTI is very common practice and the berries are full of vitamin C and other helpful constituents. It also can have an increasing effect on anticoagulants or blood thinners, causing increased bleeding risk.

Valerian - Valerian has been used to treat insomnia and anxiety and is considered a mild sedative. This can be very risky as Valerian alone has over 500 different drug interactions. It can worsen the sedative effects of other drugs and cause drowsiness, so do not take it without first consulting your doctor.

St. John's Wort - A common herb used to help treat depression, however it cannot be taken with any other form of anti-depressant. It has very negative effects when combined with SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) like Prozac, TCA's (Tricyclic Antidepressants) like amoxapine, and MAO inhibitors (Monoamine oxidase inhibitors) like Zelapar. It can also affect anticoagulants like Warfarin, HIV medications, and birth control. It is believed that it make depression and anxiety worse with some anti depressants and can cause other drugs to be less effective.

Ginseng - Ginseng is often used as an herbal pick-me-up to help with mental alertness. While it is great at it's job, it can also cause problems with blood thinners and diabetic drugs such as insulin or oral hypoglycemics. It has a natural blood thinning effect which if mixed with a blood thinner could cause bruising or bleeding.

Ginkgo biloba - Ginkgo has been getting some pretty bad press as it was rather recently dis-proven to help improve the mental state of patients with Dementia and Alzheimer's disease. It takes another hit with some pretty severe drug interactions as it can make anti-viral drugs less effective, such as those used for HIV. It can also react with anti-seizure medication, blood thinners, diabetes drugs as well as around 400-500 other drugs.

Ginger - While there is not too many reports of Ginger having drug interactions, it is important to note that it does prolong bleeding and should not be used with any kind of anticoagulant or blood thinner such as Warfarin. Make sure to stop using Ginger at least 2 weeks before you are due for any kind of surgery.

Hopefully this brings some light to the dangers and importance of drug interactions. It is always important to contact your doctor, a practitioner, and pharmacist or do your own research to see if there are any drug interactions with the herbs you are taking.

It is also a good idea to ask a professional if you have prior health problems, such as increased bleeding risk, before using any kind of herbal supplement or medicine.

Stay safe!

~ Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

 

Dosages

Probably the most important part of preparing any herbal medicine is getting the proper dosage. Many herbs are unsafe at higher dosages or ineffective at too low a dosage.

While this is true it can be very difficult to find the proper dosage for various herbs, primarily because there just isn't enough research out there to tell the exact and proper dosage or standard. So while using ANY herbal remedy make sure to do your homework.

It is a good idea to choose an herb that has been well researched with the lowest possible side effects. Then to look at the dosage carefully and apply it.

Many herbs are most effective when taken as standardized extracts by certain percents or a particular constituent. This is not usually easy or even possible in a non-clinical setting, and in that instant I would buy from a manufacturer that is able to achieve those extract percentages rather than just making my own preparation as they will be the most effective.

Always do your homework before selecting an herb for a particular ailment or illness as it may cause other problems such as if you are allergic to ragweed, you could easily have an allergic reaction to Echinacea, a commonly used cold and flu fighter. It is easy for many herbs to cause contact dermatitis and for some preparation might not be their best option. It's not for everyone.

I have created a chart based on the dosages found from various internet sources and one of my favored books for herbal remedies.

Herbal Dosage of 129 Herbs

This include the plant parts used, dosages, and cautions to be aware of. It also give a basic rule of thumb dosage for common preparations at the top.

The best way of taking ANY herbal medicine or supplement is to take it in small increments, if you have any side effects stop using it immediately. If the reactions are severe contact your doctor.

If you are on any kind of medication or are pregnant or breastfeeding it is always very advisable to talk to a professional first, preferably your doctor, before taking any kind of alternative medicine.

While herbal medicine is thought to be safe, there are still side effects. Everyone's body is different and everyone will react differently. Herbal medicine is not for everyone and it's important to not push it if this is true. If it doesn't work for you or you have any sort of reaction do NOT continue taking that herb or supplement. STOP immediately.

Be safe about anything you put into your body.

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

Botany & Herbalism: Poisonous Plants

Taking a little bit of a break from from regular medicine we're moving on to a little bit of history as well as identifying a few of plants that should be avoided at all costs, some however have a long history of being used as medicinal plants. Although the latter may be true please do NOT use any of these plants in herbal medicine. There are always alternatives to these and their risks far outweigh their benefits.

So to begin I will start with some plants you may be a little more familiar with.

We'll start off with the Nightshades. Now there are more than one type of nightshade, the one commonly known as "Deadly Nightshade" is a particular type of nightshade originating in Europe. It's scientific name is Atropa belladonna, meaning "Beautiful lady". It was named this due to it's common use of being dropped into the eye and causing dilation, this was believed to be beautiful at the time. However, it is now regarded for being highly poisonous, and as it's name suggests, deadly.

Image: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs

 This is the flower of true Atropa belladonna. Notice the bell-shaped purple flowers. It is often mistaken for it's North American cousin Woody or Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), which has star shaped flowers. While both are very poisonous Atropa belladonna has the worst reputation and is believed to be more poisonous than many of it's other cousins.


Next we have the Hemlocks. Hemlock is unfortunately a little less known of the poisonous plants, however the main one I would like to talk about is Water Hemlock  or Cicuta maculata which is believed to be the most poisonous plant in North America. It closely resembles many other, non-poisonous plants and can be hard to identify, making it exceptionally dangerous. It generally grows in areas that receive lots of water, thus it's name, and can easily cause death if ingested or severe dermatitis if picked up.

Image by: vitaminsupplementingredients.com

Image by: spiritinthewind.com

It is important to look at the leaves CLOSELY as the little white flowers to the untrained eye could make the plant look a lot like Queen Anne's Lace.

Queen Anne's Lace Image by field-notebook.com

Queen Anne's Lace leaves Image by bio.brandeis.edu

The next one on our list is one I've actually seen quite frequently around Massachusetts since I've been up here, it's the Celandine. Greater Celandine or Chelidonium majus is one I see the most of, and after identifying it in my own yard and reading more about it, I soon discovered that not only is just the sap poisonous, but the plant if ingested and cause convulsions and paralysis. It was also once used as a medicinal herb.

Greater Celandine, Image by worldoffloweringplants.com

The common dermatitis bringing plants that most people are familiar with, Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac, are so often misidentified. I am frequently asked, "Is this Poison Ivy/Oak?" and I would like to show everyone the difference so they can tell for themselves. An easy way to remember is this simple rhyme:
“Leaves of three, let it be”
“Berries white, run in fright”
“Hairy vine, no friend of mine”

Poison Ivy, or Toxicodendron radicans is best identified as having serrated, pointed leaflets in sets of 3.

Image by: twineagles.org

Poison Oak or Toxicodendron diversilobum is identified as having 3 lobed leaflets that are rounded.

Image by scitoys.com

 Finally we have the lesser known, Poison Sumac or Toxicodendron vernix, this is best identified as having up to 13 leaflets and slightly red looking stems.

Image by nachi.org

Hopefully this covers the more common poisonous plants, so that you have a better idea of what to look for. As they say: "When in doubt, throw it out." which can go for a lot of things, including poisonous plants. Always make sure you "Throw it out" with thick gloves.

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)

Herbal Preparations

I took the day off yesterday because I got a little behind, and I had been working on an extensive list of herbal preparations which can be viewed now on my "Herbal Preparations" page to the left. It describes the different types of preparations and what they do. It's still under construction as I need to add a few things to make it complete, but it is still very useful if you are thinking of making your own herbal preparations.

Herbal preparations are different ways of preparing medicinal herbs to be used a medicine. There are a large variety of ways to use herbs the two biggest ways of course being ingestion, which is usually orally, and topically, or applying to the skin.

Depending on the herb and the ailment or illness you can determine the best preparation to make.

For example, if someone has a cold or the flu, an ointment or cream might help skin irritation, or a eucalyptus rub might help chest congestion but you would generally want to treat a cold internally. The most common way of doing this would be as an Infusion, Decoction, or Maceration. All three of these are different ways of making what we commonly refer to as tea. Water steeped with herb material to bring out it's medicinal properties.

Typically a cream, balm, salve, or ointment would be used if you or the person you were treating had some sort of skin problem, such as a rash, allergic dermatitis, bug bites or stings, or minor burns. These can also be treated with Poultice and Compress, which are faster preparations, by applying the herb almost directly to the skin. You can also apply it directly if using Aloe vera, by cutting open a fleshy leaf and applying the inner gel directly to the affected area.

There are infused oils, typically used for skin ailments as well. Especially strong oils can be used for aroma therapy.

Capsules are of course a form of internal medicine, as well as suppositories, all can be rather easily made at home.

The biggest issue with any preparation is dosage, which I will talk  about later. Dosage is extremely important when dealing with any kind of drug or medicinal herb as one could just as easily under-dose with little to no effect or overdose to very ill effect. So before administering or creating your own herbal preparations I strongly advise finding a very reliable source for dosage information, and make sure you keep up on it. Dosages can change very quickly, especially as more and more research on herbs is being done, so make sure to look for articles or sources published rather recently for dosage information (Within the last 3 years if possible.)

~Lindsey Shemwell (The Budding Botanist)