Page 133 - Lost Book Remedies

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies

tannins help reduce the production of mucus and its Sheep Sorrel Tea: You’ll need 1 teaspoon dried
anti-microbial action helps kill bacterial infections. sheep sorrel leaves and 1 cup water.
Use sheep sorrel as soon as the illness begins to reduce
the severity of the disease. Bring the water to a boil and pour over the dried sheep
sorrel leaves. Cover and let the tea steep for 5 to 10
Warning: Because of its high oxalate content, people minutes. Drink warm.
with kidney stones, arthritis, or hyperacidity should
not use sheep sorrel.

though many people only use the leaves. The plant is
Skullcap, rich in vitamins, minerals, and tannins. The plant is re-
Scutellaria lateriflora laxing and acts as a natural tranquilizer and sleep aid.
It is similar to valerian root in properties and activity.
Skullcap is also called blue skullcap, side-flowering Anxiety, Tension, Depression, and Insom-
skullcap, Quaker bonnet, hoodwort, mad dog skullcap, nia: Skullcap relaxes the nervous system, reduces
helmet flower, and blue pimpernel. It is a calming stress, and relieves anxiety. It reduces body tension
herb, useful for anxiety and nervous disorders of all and allows the body to relax into sleep. It calms people
kinds. It is in the Lamiaceae (Mint) Family. It likes who are overly
moist areas throughout much of North America, where nervous, hys-
it is native, and is cultivated in much of Europe. North terical, or una-
American skullcaps can be used interchangeably for ble to relax.
medicine. Note that they are used differently than Chi-
nese Skullcap (S. baicalensis), another useful herb. Its antioxidant
properties help
Identification: The plant has smooth, square erect with oxidative
stems that reach 1 to 4 feet (0.3m to 1.2m) tall. The stress, which is
stems are leafy and branched, with oblong, opposite associated with
toothed leaves. Each leaf is 1 to 3 inches (2.5 cm to 7.5 depression and
cm) long, with smaller leaves at the top of the stems. anxiety disor-
The 2-lobed helmeted flowers are blue-violet to whit- ders, and it
ish. Each flower is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and grows binds to benzo-
in short spike-like racemes or singularly in the axils of diazepine
the upper leaves. The flowers are tubular and the upper GABA receptors Millspaugh, C.F(1854-1923) Commons Wikipedia
hooded lip gives it its name of “skullcap”. Each flower in the brain.
produces 4 nut-like fruits. It blooms from July through Antioxidant and Neuroprotective: Skullcap is
September.
an excellent antioxidant and functions as a neuropro-
Medicinal Use: Skullcap is usually used as a hot tea tective for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkin-
or tincture, but some people prefer to use powdered son’s.
skullcap in capsule form. Tinctures should be made Muscle Spasms and Tension, Muscle, Sei-
with fresh herbs for optimal potency. Skullcap seems
to act upon benzodiazepine GABA receptors in the zures, Twitches, Calms the Nervous Sys-
brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps prevent tem: Skullcap is an antispasmodic. It eases muscle
overstimulation of the nervous system. If it gets too low twitches, spasms, and seizures by relaxing the muscles,
you can have seizures, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, relieving involuntary muscle movements, and calming
insomnia and more. the nervous system.
American skullcap interacts with these GABA recep- Tension Headaches and Perhaps Mi-
tors, binding to the benzodiazepine site, as does Vale- graines: People taking skullcap report that it helps
rian and California Poppy, both in this book. The relieve tension headaches. It may also help migraines.
leaves, stems, and flowers are used medicinally,

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