Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
Common names: Black Cohosh
Origin: Traditional North American herb
Active substances: Triterpene glycosides
Description: Traditionally used to treat a wide range of ailments but particularly female related conditions such as PMS and menopausal disorders e.g. hot flushes and depression. Can also be used as a cough suppressant and expectorant and to lower blood pressure.
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Common names: Burdock Root
Origin: Common throughout Britain, Europe and North America
Part of plant used: Roots
Active substances: Inulin, lignans, phenolic acids
Description: A rosette of huge leaves at ground level with small rosettes up the stem topped by clusters of globular flowers. A popular detoxifier and blood cleanser, it has also shown promise with skin disorders such as eczema. Burdock root has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and immune strengthening effects.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla/recitita)
Common names: German Chamomile, Roman Chamomile
Origin: Southern Europe
Part of plant used: Fresh flowers
Active substances: Flavonoids, bisabolols and essential oils
Description: "Chamomile can cure anything" and is widely used in teas, ointments, lotions and extracts for its anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-infective abilities. A very soothing effect especially on mucous membranes with good anti-bacterial and anti-fungal actions especially against Candida albicans.
Dong Quai (Angelica sinesis)
Common names: Chinese Angelica, Dong Quai
Origin: Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
Part of plant used: Dried root
Active substances: Lingustilide, butyl phthalide, butylene phthalide, ferulic acid, polysaccharides.
Description: A base of branched celery-like leaves with a tall umbel of white green flowers (like cow parsley in appearance). Dong Quai is the Chinese name for the root. It is the most important female tonic remedy in Chinese medicine and is used for debility and poor vitality, convalescence and fatigue in women, as well as all kinds of gynaecological, menstrual and menopausal symptoms.
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
Common names: Goldenseal, yellow root, eye root, Indian turmeric, jaundice root
Origin: North America
Part of plant used: Rhizome (root stock)
Active substances: alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine, canadine, berberastine)
Description: A long history of use by Native American healers for local inflammations and infections. The active ingredients are strongly astringent and help reduce inflammation of mucous membranes (stomach, intestinal, vaginal, rectal). They are all antiseptic and berberine also has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic activity. Modern medicine includes uses as a laxative, for piles, mouth sores, acne, sore throat and eye infections.
Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)
Common names: Kava Kava
Origin: South Pacific islands
Part of plant used: Dried root
Active substances: A unique group of 15 lactones - the Kavalactones
Description: The subject of over 100 years of research, Kava Kava's primary use is as a sleep aid and relaxant. Can be beneficial in the treatment of headaches.
Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Common names: Licorice, liquorice
Origin: Italy, Spain, Iran, Russia
Part of plant used: Roots
Active substances: Glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetenic acid, flavonoids, asparagine, isoflavonoids, triterpenoid saponins
Description: Long used for culinary and medicinal purposes, liquorice has anti-inflammatory activity similar to cortisone and is used in cases of arthritis and also acts like the hormone responsible for sodium/potassium control and water retention. It is also highly effective in the treatment of gastrointestinal complaints, particularly gastric and peptic ulcers. The pronounced oestrogenic effects also make a key component of many female tonics.
Mexican Wild Yam ( Dioscorea barbasco)
Common names: Wild Mexican yam
Origin: Can only grow in the wild in remote areas of Mexico
Part of plant used: Dried roots
Active substances: Saponins especially diosgenin and sapogenin
Description: Long vines growing out of a bulbous root tuber that is shaped like a starfish and can weigh 50-100lbs. According to herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in Herbal Healing for Women, wild yam "is the most widely used herb in the world today." Over 200 million prescriptions that contain its derivatives are sold each year.
Diosgenin is a chemical very similar to cholesterol, progesterone and DHEA - the precursor to testosterone, and provides about 50% of the raw material for the manufacture of cortisone, progesterone, and many other steroid hormones. Until recently, wild yam was the sole source of the diosgenin used in making the contraceptive pill and HRT treatments.
There are literally thousands of species of edible and medicinal yam and scientists are now working with over 110 species of wild yams and have identified and isolated numerous chemical compounds all with different and remarkable actions and activities. Many, like diosgenin, have a key role in "precursor" chemistry.
The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia recognises wild yam root as a spasmolytic, mild diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic and cholagogue and for use in the treatment of intestinal colic, diverticulitis, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular rheumatism, cramps, intermittent claudication (leg clots), cholecystitis, dysmenorrhea, and ovarian and uterine pain
Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Common names: Siberian Ginseng, Ciwujia, Devil�s Shrub, Touch-Me Not, Ussurian thorny pepperbush (not to be confused with Chinese Ginseng, Korean Ginseng, Asian Ginseng which is a totally different plant)
Origin: China, Russia (Eastern Siberia), Manchuria, Korea
Part of plant used: Rhizome and roots
Active substances: Glycosides (eleutherosides), resins, pectin
Description: A tall wild deciduous shrub with many stalks and a woody root (not the fleshy rootstock of other ginsengs). The root has been used in Chinese medicine for 2000 years as a general preventative medicine and tonic. Numerous clinical trials have established that E. senticosus acts as an adaptogen and helps us handle stressful conditions and excel in athletic and mental
endeavours.
Soybean (Leguminosae glycine g.
max)
Common names: Soybean, Soya
Origin: Eastern Asia
Part of plant used: Oil and flour derived from seeds
Active substances: Rich in essential fatty acids (Linoleic 54%, Oleic 24%, Palmitic 12%, Linolenic 8%) and Aglycone chemicals (without sugar) known as the isoflavones. In soy there are three significant isoflavone compounds: daidzein, genistein, glycitein.
Description: One of the first crops grown by man. It has long been recognised that women who have high-soy diets exhibit relatively low levels of reproductive and hormone-related diseases. Isoflavones are oestrogen-mimicking adaptogens and if a woman has an excessive amount of oestrogen these substances help block the oestrogen from entering the receptor site. As many symptoms of menopause and PMS are due to an imbalance of oestrogen and progesterone, this activity helps achieve a natural balance. The scientific basis for this has been explored in over 200 studies around the world. There is evidence that isoflavones can prevent a loss of bone density. The indications are that women with diets containing 25-75mg of isoflavones maintain physical, mental and emotional well being throughout their lives. Phytoestrogens, and in particular genistein, are powerful antioxidants and can improve the balance of cholesterol in the blood.