Teh best herbs for every stage of your life

Natural Health, Sept-Oct, 1998 by Laurel Vukovic

Medicinal plants offer a lifetime of treatment options--no matter your age or illness. We detail the ideal herbal remedies for 28 common ailments.

Your baby can't meditate. Your teenager has no patience for yoga and prefers hamburgers to tofu. Your grandfather laughs at the hocuspocus of homeopathy. Many natural therapies don't easily cross generational lines. Except herbal medicine. You can get just about anyone to drink a cup of tea.

Especially after they see the results. And herbs do deliver results. In the two decades I've used and studied medicinal plants, I've seen them work their magic on heart palpitations (hawthorn), irregular menstrual cycles (chaste berry, also known as vitex), high blood pressure (garlic), prostate enlargement (saw palmetto berries), migraines (feverfew), mild depression (St. John's wort), poor circulation (ginkgo), and scores of other health problems.

What follows is a guide to herbal remedies for the most common ailments that occur at each stage of life. Ailments appear under the life stage in which they most frequently occur--from infant to elder (even though some conditions follow us our entire lives). The herbs I've highlighted for the treatment of each ailment are described in detail in an alphabetized herbal directory that begins below. My suggestions are, of course, not exhaustive, since many problems can be effectively treated with dozens of different herbs.

It should be noted that herbs are best used as part of a comprehensive approach to healing that includes appropriate diet, exercise, stress management, and rest. If you have unusual symptoms, suspect a serious condition, or are pregnant, never diagnose or treat yourself without the guidance of a qualified health care practitioner.

A LIFETIME OF HERBS

The following 26 herbs are best suited for the common ailments we describe in these pages. Where appropriate, dosages are given for different age groups. To tailor any dose to a child, remember this rule: Consider all adult doses for a 150-pound person. A child's dose should always be proportionate to the child's weight. For example, if the adult dose is one teaspoon, the dose for a 50-pound child would be one-third teaspoon. In general, teenagers can take adult doses. But always adjust doses for children under age 12.

ARNICA

(Arnica montana)

What It Is: Packed inside arnica's bright yellow, daisylike flowers are powerful anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. For centuries, European herbalists have applied the herb to the skin to reduce the swelling and soreness of muscle strains, sprains, and bruises, (Arnica is also used internally as a homeopathic remedy--in an extremely diluted form.)

How To Use It: Arnica is available as a gel, cream, oil, or liquid extract--all to be used externally.

For muscle strain: The sooner you apply arnica, the better. I've found that immediately rubbing the gel, cream, or oil onto the injured area will often prevent bruising. Adults and children should apply it three times daily until the soreness or bruising is relieved.

I also like using cold arnica compresses for treating bruises, sprains, and strains. This combines the herb's healing properties with the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory benefits of cold temperatures. Dilute one tablespoon of arnica extract in one pint of ice-cold water. Dip a thin cotton cloth into the mixture, squeeze out excess moisture. and apply to the bruise or sprain for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, three to four times a day, until the swelling and pain are alleviated. Leftover liquid and the cloth can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

Safety Considerations: Only take homeopathic Arnica tablets internally. Do not apply any arnica potion to broken skin.

ASTRAGALUS

(Astragalus membranaceus)

What It Is: One of traditional Chinese medicine's primary tonic herbs, astragalus root has a big job: to strengthen resistance to disease. It works in several powerful ways to bolster immune function, such as by increasing the population and activity of infection-fighting white blood cells and boosting the production of interferon, the body's natural antiviral agent. The herb has been shown to decrease the incidence of colds and significantly shorten the course of an existing cold (usually cutting recovery time in half).

How To Use It: Traditionally prepared dried astragalus root looks like wooden tongue depressors and is stocked in herb stores, Chinese pharmacies, and Asian markets. Organic astragalus is now being grown in the United States and is increasingly available in herb stores in a dried, shredded form. The herb also comes in capsule or liquid extract form, but I enjoy its mild, sweet flavor as a tea.

To make a tea, simmer three tablespoons of dried, shredded astragalus root and three cups of water in a covered pot for 30 minutes. If you're using sliced astragalus root, simmer a half-dozen slices in three cups of water for one hour. Strain and serve.

For colds and flus: Traditional Chinese medicine classifies ailments, including colds and flus, as "hot" or "cold" conditions. Astragalus is considered a warming herb suitable only for "cold" conditions. If you don't know what kind of cold or flu you have, don't take the herb during illness. Instead, use it to prevent colds and flus and to restore immune strength once an illness is over. Adults should drink three cups of tea daily, or take one dropperful of liquid extract (diluted in a quarter-cup of boiling water) or two capsules two or three times a day Children should take a fraction of these doses that's proportional to their weight, assuming the adult dose is for a 150-pound person. For example, a 50-pound child should drink one cup of tea a day, or take one-third dropperful of extract two or three times a day or one capsule two times a day. The herb can help strengthen immunity when taken consistently for several months.