Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies. David Hoffmann
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Somebody who is tense and tight, who wants to hold on to everything and everyone, who cannot relax and let go, whose attitude towards the world is one of taking and keeping rather than of giving and staying open, will often also be constipated. In such cases, relaxation exercises or meditation can be the best laxatives.
When constipation is the result of a disease process, it is important to relieve the symptom whilst treating the cause, otherwise the body might absorb some of the stagnant material from the intestine.
Of all the evacuant herbs available, perhaps the most widely applicable is Rhubarb Root, as it is a prime example of a normalising herb. While in a large dose it is a purgative, taken in small doses it tones and astringes the intestine wall, promotes appetite and can disperse any gas that develops.
Any of the evacuant herbs will work well on their own, but the following mixture combines a number of valuable actions. Barberry aids the liver and the gall-bladder, Boldo stimulates the digestive process, Cascara Sagrada acts on the peristaltic movement, Liquorice is mainly included to mask the bitter taste of some of the herbs, Rhubarb Root is included in a small dose for the above mentioned reasons and Ginger will guard against any colic:
| Barberry | 2 parts |
| Boldo | 2 parts |
| Cascara Sagrada | 1 part |
| Liquorice | 1 part |
| Rhubarb Root | 1 part |
| Ginger |
1 part  |
Take a cup of this tea before going to bed.
As an alternative to Boldo, Dandelion can be used and Fennel can be substituted for Ginger, both in the same quantities.
Dandelion
Diarrhoea
A diarrhoea that does not last more than a day or two is a very common symptom and can be caused by an acute infection or inflammation of the intestine wall or by psychological stress, for instance by over-excitement or by a long journey. In most cases diarrhoea sets in when the body has to remove digestive poisons from its system, and as such it should not be suppressed. However, it can be useful to control the process and help the system with herbs that tone the lining of the intestine wall and which are mildly astringent. For persistent, long-standing diarrhoea, seek the advice of a skilled practitioner. By far the best mild digestive astringent is Meadowsweet, which can safely be used in all cases of diarrhoea. In cases of childhood diarrhoea, a good remedy is a tea made of equal parts of Lady’s Mantle and Meadowsweet, which can be sweetened with some honey and should be taken often. For an acute attack in adults, a very good mixture would be a tea of equal parts of:
American Cranesbill
Bay berry
Meadowsweet
Oak Bark
This tea should be drunk every hour until the symptoms subside and then before every meal until the digestion is normal.
Pain
Pain in the digestive system is an indicator of the type of illness present. Any extreme, acute abdominal pain necessitates immediate medical supervision. Less acute pain will often accompany digestive disorders. Colic and griping pains are due to intense muscle spasms in the gut, and usually indicate an attempt to remove a blockage that could be caused by wind or faecal matter, or perhaps a muscle spasm of nervous origin. Flatulent colic will be relieved by the carminative herbs but all causes must be treated to clear the pain. Useful antispasmodics in this case are Caraway, Ginger, Valerian and Wild Yam. Pain from stomach ulcers and similar problems can be eased by using demulcents such as Marshmallow or Comfrey. Of course, the roots of the problem must be treated in all cases where pain is a symptom.
Loss of appetite
The appetite can be a good indicator for the state of the digestive system. If there is for instance a gastric problem, the appetite will often diminish for a period of time. This way the stomach will have a better chance to recover, as it has to process less food. A similar pattern can evolve with liver problems when the liver is over-burdened.
If there is a loss of appetite in the recovery phase of an illness such as influenza, digestive stimulants like Gentian or Wormwood should be used to restore healthy function.
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is characterised by an extreme loss of appetite, practically an aversion to food, and often the inability to eat anything, which consequently leads to a drastic loss of weight. Anorexia nervosa is caused by psychological problems and has thus to be approached psychotherapeutically. Herbally, the process can be aided with the use of digestives and nervines, for instance with a tea of equal parts of
Chamomile
Condurango
Gentian
Skullcap
which should be drunk three times daily.
As the beginning of the digestive system, the health of the mouth will affect the whole of the system. If there is a chronic tooth problem that makes proper chewing painful, or if there is an infection like an abscess, the system downstream will be affected and polluted. Similarly, if there is not enough saliva or if the composition of saliva is not adequate, the digestive process will be slowed down. Oral hygiene therefore cannot be stressed too much. Problems in the gut can also give mouth problems such as bad breath or recurrent mouth ulcers.
Teeth
When problems arise, teeth must be treated by a dentist, but herbs can be helpful to prevent tooth decay.
Long before toothbrushes made of bristle or plastic were developed, roots like Marshmallow, Liquorice, Alfalfa or Horseradish were used to clean teeth. Liquorice Root for instance can be prepared very easily, simply by peeling the bark off one end and flaying the fibres. Marshmallow Root needs somewhat more preparation: choose a straight root and cut it into 5 inch pieces. Peel the ends and boil in water, together with Cinnamon Sticks and Cloves until the sticks are tender. Put them carefully—as they break easily—into brandy and let them soak for a day. Take them out and let them dry. Before you use them, soak the end for a short time in hot water. You will not even need to use toothpaste, since all the necessary ingredients are in the root. It has a nice taste too.
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