Some commonly used herbs

This section gives information about some of the more commonly known herbs that have been used in drinks. This list generally excludes herbs and spices that are associated primarily with culinary or flavour use, although many of these will also have some health benefits. Some of the herbs listed below are of European or American origin and are listed in the Blue Book . The names of listed herbs are followed by their category. Several herbs that have been used in the past, such as St John s Wori, Ma huang (Ephedra) and Kava-kava, have been omitted as they are currently withdrawn from the European market due to health concerns by the regulators. 

Botanical name Cynara scoelymus. Region of origin Mediterranean region. 

Pari of herb used The fresh or dried basal 

Main actives Caffeic acid derivatives (c.1%) including chlorgenic acid, flavonoids (c.0.5%) and sesquiterpene lactones (up to 4%) - the major component is cyanaropicrin. 

Benefits The herb is claimed to stimulate the gall bladder and detoxify and regenerate the liver tissues. It has been used to treat dyspeptic problems. It has also been shown to reduce blood lipids, serum cholesterol and blood sugar levels. The high inulin content makes it a valuable vegetable for diabetics. 

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Table 6.3 shows some common ayurvedic herbs that have been used for various cosmetic applications. Despite the use of numerous herbs and extracts over the ages for... 

TABLE 6.3. Some Common Ayurvedic Herbs Most Commonly Used for Various Cosmetic Applications... 

Many Chinese herbal species currently are unavailable commercially in North America. However, hundreds of Chinese medicinal herbs commonly used in China also can be found in natural habitats in North America. The majority have a phyletic relationship with either the same species or the same genus of Chinese herb (see Tables 3 4). Some of the principal ingredients in Chinese herbs can be extracted from related plant species in the West. Thus, it may be possible to substitute Chinese herbs with more readily available herbs in the West. Moreover, these North American plants are, or can be, cultivated, harvested, and processed under proper management that will ensure their safety, quality, and efficacy. 

In New Zealand, herbal ecstasy is a term used for many different herbal formulations, none of which contains ecstasy. Some of the names for these herbs (which can be sold in stores) include The Bomb , Reds , and Sublime . Analysis of The Bomb showed substantial amounts of ephedrine the Ministry of Health in New Zealand removed it from the market. Some symptoms associated with herbal ecstasy include headache, dizziness, palpitation, tachycardia, and raised blood pressure. Thus, in countries where the term herbal ecstasy is commonly used, it is important that those who see patients who have taken herbal ecstasy should not confuse it with ecstasy, as toxicity and medical management may be quite different (133). 

Serenoa repens (Bartram) Small (saw palmetto) is an herb that is most commonly used to treat problems related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The medicinal element of saw palmetto is taken from the partially dried ripe fruit of the American dwarf palm tree, which is indigenous to the coastal regions of the southern United States, from the Carolinas and Florida to California. BPH is a nearly universal result of the aging process in men. Saw palmetto is widely used in other countries for example, it is used in 50% of treatments for BPH in Italy and in 90% of such treatments in Germany. The active part of the plant is the sterols and free fatty acids found in the berry. It is unclear which components are the most active, and the mechanism of action is not fully understood. Some of the mechanisms proposed include anti-inflammatory activity, blocked conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and prostate epithelial involution similar to effects... 

Kapadia, G.J., E.B. Chung, B. Ghosh, et al. 1978. Carcinogenicity of some folk medicinal herbs in rats./. Nat. Cancer Inst. 60(3) 683-686. Leung, A.Y., and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York Wiley. 

The most ancient uses of spices appear to be therapeutic in nature. The use of spices was common in China but tittle, if any, authentic Chinese records exist to confirm this. According to Chinese myths and legends, Shen Nung, the Divine Cultivator, founded Chinese medicine and discovered the curative powers of many herbs. He is said to have described more than 100 plants in a treatise reportedly written in 2700 BC. It has been shown, however, that no written language was available in China at that time. Although some of the herbal uses in the treatise go back several centuries BC, the work seems to have been produced by unknown authors in the first century AD. Other records on the use of cassia and ginger are known to have been written in the fifth and fourth centuries BC, in the latter case by Confucius. 

The elder flower is rather musk-scented. Some feel that its perfume is somewhat psychoactive, and this may be the reason why so much lore and legend surround it. Elder blossoms are often used in herbal salves for tropical application to the skin. Other common herbs included in such salves are comfrey leaves (Symphytum officinale), calendula (Calendula officinalis) blossoms and plantain (Plantago major) leaves. 

There are a few members of the passionflower family (Passifloraceae) that have psychotropic effects. The one most studied is Pass flora incarnata, although some work has been done on Pass flora coerulea and Passiflora edulis. P. incarnata is a colorful, flowering plant with five white or lavender petals, a purple or pink corona, and five brightly colored stamen (Gruenwald et al. 1998). The parts of the plants used for medicinal effect are the whole plant or aerial parts. It is native to the mid- to southeastern United States. Passionflower has a history with Native Americans as a poultice to treat bruises, and as a tea for sedative/anxiolytic effects (Kowalchick and Hylton 1987). It is one of the most common herbs commercially available in Britain (Tyler 1994). 

The purple coneflower Echinacea purpura, and its close relatives, E. angustifolia and E. pallida, are the source of the herb Echinacea, which is widely popular as a nonspecific immune stimulant. These perennials are native to the prairies of North America and are now widely grown garden ornamentals. The root and aerial parts of the plant are the portions used, and the preparation s potency can be verified by the transient tingling sensation produced when it is tasted. Echinacea contains alkamides, caffeic acid esters (echinacoside, cichoric acid, caftaric acid), polysaccharides (heteroxylan), and an essential oil. Some echinacea products are standardized for their echinacoside content. In the past, adulteration with American feverfew (Parthenium integri-folium) was common. Echinacea is now sold either by itself or in combination with golden seal or zinc for the treatment of colds and influenza. 

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