Today I'm going to talk about European Elder.  I need to specify this is the plant with the Latin name Sambucus nigra.  There are two other species that are called elder and they are American elder and dwarf elder. I'm working on an entry for American elder Sambucus canadensis and will talk about it separately once done. I feel it's a good time to talk about this one because the cold months are coming and if you don't know how to make elderberry syrup, you're going to want to meet someone who can or find a source to buy it from.  You'll see why below.  I need to get breakfast going here in a bit.  My son just got up so he'll be asking to eat very soon.  Then I'll get to work on those clothes.  I also need to see what I put in the shed before putting these out there to make sure I have everything together. With such tiny clothes, their whole wardrobes at those ages fit just fine in one bag.  It seems odd walking into the bathroom and seeing floor...  My husband will be pleased since he actually uses that bathroom when he's home.  I'm also hoping to make more room in my closet and put some of the stuff in there.  It will be nice to find the tub and be able to use it.  The struggle is real when you are raising two little ones and taking all these classes.  So much has to be dropped to take care of the kids and assignments.  I'm going to end this here and get the kids eating! 

On to European Elder!

Constituents: Flower: Triterpenes (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, A- and B-amyrin, sterols), fixed oils (free fatty acids, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, palmitic acid), phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid), pectin, sugars. Leaf: Triterpenes (similar to flowers), cyanogenetic glycosides (sambunigrin), flavonoids (kaempferol, quercetin, quercetin glycosides – hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin), fatty acids, alkanes, tannins. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 580)  Chevallier (2016) says the berries have flavonoids, anthocyanins, lectins and vitamins A and C. The flowers have flavonoids, anthocyanins, triterpenes, volatile oil, mucilage and tannins (p. 132).

Therapeutic Actions: Leaf: Purgative, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic (internal), emollient, vulnerary (External). Flower: Diaphoretic, anticatarrhal, antispasmodic. Berry: Diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative, antirheumatic. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 580) Chevallier (2016) doesn’t break these down by location but says antiviral, mucilage, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and increases sweating (p. 132).

Indications: Leaf: bruises, sprains, wounds, chilblains, and an ointment for tumors. Flower is antiviral, reduces the length of the flu. Anti-inflammatory – upper respiratory tract, sinuses, hay fever.  Elderberry syrup is great for colds. Strengthens cell membranes to prevent viral penetration. Infusion of elder flower, St. John’s wort, and soapwort was effective against influenza A and B and Herpes simplex 1. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 580) According to Chevallier (2016), the berries are proven to be antiviral (the number of studies on this are large) and the flowers were added to stimulate sweating and fever relief. The flower also help with mucous and congestion as well as ear aches and allergies. The flowers help with arthritis by eliminating waste (p.132).

Safety: No side effects or interactions known (Hoffman, 2003, p. 580). Petersen (2018) said safety while pregnant has not been established. When raw/unripe fruit, seeds, bark, and leaves, can cause vomiting and severe diarrhea. May lower blood sugar levels. Use caution with other diuretics and laxatives as urination and bowel movements may increase (p. 98).

Have a Great Day!

It has been a busy day!  We got our breakfast, took the trash to the dump, went to Party City to see what Tinkerbell stuff they had, I need to go back and buy her the outfit when I can, and then I went to order her birthday cake.  I will have to order more plates and napkins on Monday when my husband's check hits the bank.  When we got back home, I fed the kids lunch then began working on the things stored in my.  I have my daughters 18-month and 3T clothes vacuum sealed so my sister can get them some day for her daughter.  I'm washing the last of the old clothes now so I can get the rest bagged and sealed.   Tomorrow I'll get my son's old clothes done and find the sink...  Who knows. I may be able to find the bathroom before school starts back up!  I didn't get very good sleep last night so I didn't make my son take a nap when we got back home.  We can go to bed early tonight!  New herb tomorrow!

On to the constituents of dandelion!

Violaxanthin is yellow and common.  This constituent inhibits the virus that activates Epstein-Barr and promotes an anti-tumor effect and is also an antioxidant. It accumulates in ovarian tissue.  This and other xanthophylls have been found to reverse drug resistance in breast cancer and enhance chemotherapy drugs  (Ganora, 2009, p. 25, 69, 149).

Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacoside), diterpenes (taraxacin), triterpenes (Taraxasterol, arnidiol, faradiol, B-amyrin),  carotenoids (lutin), polysaccharides (mannans)

Have a Great Day!

The day is racing away from me!  Tomorrow my husband will be driving toward a hurricane.  He will be out of the state before it hits, though.  He's bringing in a load of hurricane relief then getting out of dodge. The kids have been really good today even though my son is WAY past his nap time.  I also just realized I didn't get anything out for dinner.  I'll have to concoct something!  I haven't even had lunch yet.  Been too busy getting things done around here.  I let my daughter scramble the eggs this morning and she did a great job. I do wonder if my son will be interested in helping or just watching like he does now.  I want them BOTH to know how to cook.  I got sidetracked taking my daughter's night gown to her room to hang it up and my son bumped his head trying to put it on.  She got upset and took off her dress and put it on herself.  i thought about snapping a picture because it was funny.  She knows how to put them on but she decided she needed to wear it by having the neck around her waist.  I'm going to leave this here and help my son get to dreamland then figure out what dinner is going to be...

On to the constituents of Dandelion!

Diterpenes: Hoffman describes a specific diterpene so I'll just talk about Ganora. She says there are several categories and what they do depends on that category. Diterpenes, structurally, have 20 carbons. She says these are relatively stable because of their size but a rare few may be volatile. They are usually constituents of oleoresins or resins. This means they are either water soluble or high-percentage alcohol soluble. it appears there are too many to specify any activity they may possess. She does say there are about 2,500 of them (Hoffman, 2003, p. 174; Ganora, 2003, p. 46, 68, 134, 139, 140).

B-sitosterol is in a lot of higher plants. It is essential in cell membranes.  It seems to have antihyperlipoproteinemic activity. Ganora adds this constituent accounts for around 70% of phytosterols, which of course means sterols that are found in plants.  This passage mainly talks about phytosterols in general. There is an entry for them on the Herbal List page. The activity here is listed for phytosterols, not this constituent specifically  (Hoffman, 2003, p. 84, 143; Ganora, 2009, p. 145).

Stigmasterol, found in higher plants, is vital in the structure of cell membranes (Hoffman, 2003, p. 84, 143; Ganora, 2009, p. 69, 145).

Sterols is often used to imply phytosterols in these books. They need to be careful, though because sterols are found in animals while the same molecule can be called a phytosterol because it is found in a plant. calling it a sterol when it's in a plant can cause confusion (Ganora, 2009, p. 92, 93).  I broke this one out today to prevent confusion between today's post and yesterday's post. 

Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacoside), diterpenes (taraxacin), triterpenes (Taraxasterol, arnidiol, faradiol, B-amyrin),  carotenoids (lutin, violaxanthin), polysaccharides (mannans)

Have a Great Day!

This children have had their breakfast and are happily playing. My daughter has already taken off her dress, having drenched it in her water.  After all, the purpose of water is to dump over your head, right?  LOL Yes, I have towels staged all over the house because I expect it.  They are both exploring what water can do so I spend a lot of time drying the floor and tables. The also only get water for the most part because of the stains they have put on my carpet.  Yes, I need a carpet cleaner.  My positivity is getting better, I think.  There is so much to learn in this attempt to grow and become a better person.  It's funny how much we fear change when it's change that expands our possibilities and teaches us things far beyond our wildest dreams and imaginations. I have learned that fear is there to keep us down and prevent that growth.  If there is something you don't understand or you fear it because of something someone said to you, perhaps you should research it on your own and make a decision based on that instead. The future is so bright, guys.  The more I grow, the more I can't wait to experience what's coming. Time to go get my daughter a different dress so she can have it soaked in the next 10 minutes.  I also have to put away her clothes now that the drier has stopped...  Then on to working on herbariums.  I have not actually started those 10 that are posted here.  What I'm doing is filling out the herbariums with the text book from second semester to get those started and updating those posted here from that text book.  Once that's done, I'll update the 10 with the other sources.  I'll probably share my discussion posts like I did before before I start those 10 herbs to give myself more time.  There is so much information out there and I'm loving what I do!

I have already discussed every action that is attributed to Dandelion. Tomorrow I will start discussing the constituents.

Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacoside, others), diterpenes (taraxacin), triterpenes (Taraxasterol, arnidiol, faradiol, B-amyrin), sterols (stigmasterol, B-sitosterol), carotenoids (lutin, violaxanthin), xanthophylls, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin), polysaccharides (glucans, mannans, inulin), potassium (up to 4.5% in aerial parts) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 587).  Chevallier (2016) breaks these down.  The lactones, triterpenes, and polysaccharides are in both the leaves and the root. He says under leaf only: Coumarins, carotenoids, and minerals, especially potassium. Under Root only: Taraxacoside, phenolic acids, and minerals (potassium and calcium) (p. 141).

Have a Great Day!

Breakfast is done.  My son woke me at 6:30 again...  On the bright side WE HAVE RAIN!  LOL  My husband has been out for over 2 weeks now and the grass has not grown an inch.  I opened the file for dandelion for today's post and realized I keep changing the format for my herbariums.  I think I have them the way I like now but all the new ones are in the correct format and I'm changing the format in the old ones as I open them.  I noticed even though I already updated first semester that the data was confusing in that format because I can't tel which source was used for what in the formulary section.  If I can't tell, how can my readers? Sorry if anything is confusing.  Fell free to ask questions if anything isn't clear.  My husband is finally going to get trained to be a trainer which is awesome, though I know he'll complain a bit about sharing his living space when he has a trainee.  It will be a big adjustment to sharing such a tiny space and they will have to learn to be respectful of one another but I view it as a growing experience and I think he and his trainees will be the better for it.  I'm going to go ahead and get off here.  The trash really smells and I want to get it taken out.  I usually put up with it until the bag is full but NOT today.  I cleaned out the refrigerator....  I can tell...  LOL

On to Dandelion!

Constituents: Sesquiterpene lactones (taraxacoside, others), diterpenes (taraxacin), triterpenes (Taraxasterol, arnidiol, faradiol, B-amyrin), sterols (stigmasterol, B-sitosterol), carotenoids (lutin, violaxanthin), xanthophylls, flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin), polysaccharides (glucans, mannans, inulin), potassium (up to 4.5% in aerial parts) (Hoffman, 2003, p. 587).  Chevallier (2016) breaks these down.  The lactones, triterpenes, and polysaccharides are in both the leaves and the root. He says under leaf only: Coumarins, carotenoids, and minerals, especially potassium. Under Root only: Taraxacoside, phenolic acids, and minerals (potassium and calcium) (p. 141).

Therapeutic Actions: Diuretic, hepatic, cholagogue, antirheumatic, laxative, tonic, bitter (Hoffman, 2003, p. 587). Petersen 2018, adds alterative, anti-inflammatory, depurative, laxative, nutritive and stomachic (p. 191).

Indications: effective diuretic (leaf) because of the potassium, one of the best natural sources, even for water retention – especially when diuretic issues aggravate the cardiovascular system.  Most valuable tonic especially for the liver. Great for inflammation and congestion of the liver and gallbladder, including jaundice (Hoffman, 2003, p. 587). Other things include autointoxication, rheumatism, blood disorders, chronic skin eruptions, chronic gastritis and aphthius ulcers (Hoffman says these came from Ellingwood). Petersen says acne, anemia, arteriosclerosis, arthritis, breast problems (cancer, lack of milk, congestion), bronchitis, bruises, cellulite. Circulatory problems, cirrhosis (early stages), constipation, diabetes, dropsy, eczema, eye trouble, fevers, gallbladder tonic, gallstones, gout, heartburn, hepatitis (infectious), hypoglycemia, indigestion, jaundice, joint stiffness, kidney complaints, liver troubles, muscular rheumatism, edema, premenstrual fluid retention, psoriasis, sluggish digestion, and skin problems. Use the white milk topically for warts, pimples, sores, and blisters. (p. 191-2)

Safety: (Hoffman, 2003, p. 587) The Asteraceae family may have allergic reactions though rare for this plant, in the form of contact dermatitis. Petersen, 2018, says there are no contraindications reported for the leaf but don’t use the root if the bile ducts are blocked, there is gallbladder inflammation or there is intestinal blockage (p. 195).

Have a great day!

I had a post already written but the power flashed and everything was lost.  I have my friend;s son again today and am supposed to take him over to the sitter once his sister gets off the bus but I question that at the moment.  He has a cough, dry, and I don't know if I want to take him to a sitter or keep him here and make him some syrup.  Most things for cough are expectorant, though and there is nothing yet to expectorate. I just got all the kids to sleep as well and she gets off the bus in an hour.  We'll see when the time gets closer.  I probably won't be done with this before it's time to go.  I'll hit the save button this time, though.  I decided to let the little guy sleep and take him over after he wakes and he coughed himself awake!  Yes, I made him some cough syrup.  His cough is sounding a bit worse and I really don't want the little guy to get sick.  His moma doesn't need that on top of the rest of her stress and he would be happier as well.  He woke my son crying because he misses his mama but he also doesn't want to be awake.  He stayed laying on the couch, trying to go back to sleep until I sat him up and gave him a drink spiked with medicine.  I'm going to feed him before taking him over as well.  I feel bad for the little guy!  Okay, I've already got the section below done.  I'm going to check on the chicken then make the sides to go with it if it's almost done.

On to Cayenne!   

Capsaicin is a very low-polar compound even though it contains a highly polar amide group.  It is soluble in high-percentage alcohol and fixed oils. The anodyne function of this constituent works by interrupting the pain signals in the nerves. Overuse of this herb for this purpose has negative consequences  (Ganora, 2009, p. 21, 45, 114, 154, 155).

Capsaicinoids are only found in the plants of the Capsicum genus. These are oil-soluble and pungent (Ganora, 2009, p. 46, 113, 114).

Capsorubin: Ganora says all xanthophilis are oil-soluble. Ganora says this is a red pigment that occurs in fatty acids. This constituent is an antioxidant (Ganora, 2009, p. 69, 148).

Dihyrocapsaicin is oil-soluble (Ganora, 2009, p. 114).

Constituents:  capsicidins

Have a great day!

My daughter slept in until 8:30!  My son however got my behind out of bed at 6:30 with the rest of me dragging behind.  We have had breakfast but it was a late one.  My poor boy was just DIING!  LOL He was so hungry, he threw some egg on the floor for the cat to eat...  His banana bread, on the other hand, had no crumbs left behind.  Boy was putting the section below together an interesting task today!  I don't normally look in both books on the same day but it occurred to me that Ganora has some of the same things so I should check to see if Ganora can add to Hoffman.  I have an entry for tomorrow already done!  I also broke out beta-carotene and xanthophils in the Herbal List to avoid confusion because there is a lot of information in those 2 entries.  Capsaicin was discussed in the main entry for this herb but I think Ganora can add more so I have it prepped to go further.  I'll know tomorrow if there is more to add that is helpful to understanding this herb.  The kids have been amazing this morning.  The question is, can I get chores done or will they need me the minute I start like they tend to do...  LOL

On to Cayenne!   

Carotene: While Hoffman lists this as carotene, he means beta-carotene for cayenne based on the passage on this page.  Beta-carotene is found in all green leaves of higher plants and mosses, algae and ferns.  Hoffman calls this the most important Vitamin A precursor.  It is used commercially as food coloring and as sunscreen to protect against erythropoietic protoporphyria. Ganora says carotenes are antioxidants and are good for the eyes and lungs. She lists other forms of carotenes are alpha-carotene, gamma-carotene, and delta-carotene.  I'll separate out the beta-carotene and carotene portion of this in the Herbal List page so people won't be confused (Hoffman, 2003, p. 85; Ganora, 2009, p. 69).

Capsanthin is used as an orange food coloring and a flavor in sauces, salad dressings, sausages and other foods. Ganora says all xanthophilis are oil-soluble.  Ganora says this is a red pigment that occurs in fatty acids. She goes on to say this constituent has been found accumulated in HDL after drinking paprika juice and the current thought is the antioxidant ability is why peppers help prevent atherosclerosis. She clarifies on page 168 that xanthophils are orange-red which is why some can be orange and some can be red, though she calls this one very red  (Hoffman, 2003, p. 85; Ganora, 2009, p. 69, 148, 149, 168).

Constituents:  capsicidins

Capsaicin (Ganora, 2009, p. 21, 45, 114, 154, 155)

Capsaicinoids (Ganora, 2009, p. 46, 113, 114)

Capsorubin (Ganora, 2009, p. 69, 148, 149, 168)

Dihyrocapsaicin (Ganora, 2009, p. 114)

Have a great day!

We were up late again last night so we slept in and my son stayed in his bed again.  I like that!  I decided to make banana bread because I had 3 bananas on the counter and they were getting really ripe.  I began the process then discovered I couldn't find my masher.  I hate using electronics (mixers and the like) to cook.  I much prefer to use the old fashioned man-power!  I even have an old-fashioned egg beater I never use!  LOL It took forever to find it then I got the batter done and couldn't find my bread pans.  Child-proofing is also mommy-proofing!  My daughter is calling the bread "cake" but hates bananas so she won't eat it but she wants it.  I'm going to see if I can make her some cookies or something today.  I think she'd like that.  I don't bake often, obviously, because I'm too busy.  I really do like this time off school to do such things.  My daughter is also helping me make eggs now.  She likes to try to copy me in scrambling them.  She does okay but I do finish it up for her.  My kids will very much know how to take care of themselves when they move out in a few decades!  I looked and there are still just a few actions that have not been discussed, two are in this current herb so I've put them below.  I think we are very near the time when the actions won't be discussed any more, just added to that first entry.  Of course, there are many ways to say the same thing as has been noted with a few already so that will have to be explained as we come across those.  The kids are fed and happily playing so I'm going to get off here and find a chore that needs doing.  The list is long so it won't take long...  LOL

On to the actions of Cayenne!

Anticatarrhals: eliminate/prevent the formation of excess mucous (Griffin, 1997, p. 7).

Sialagogues: Increases digestion of starches by increasing saliva (Griffin, 1997, p. 11).

Constituents: Capsaicinoids: capsaicin, dihyrocapsaicin, others; carotenoids (capsanthin, capsorubin, carotene), steroidal saponins –capsicidins in root and seed (Hoffman, 2003, p. 536). Chevallier (2016) adds flavonoids, volatile oil but differs with Hoffman on the capsicidins.  He says they are ONLY in the seeds. Capsaicin causes a cooling affect by first causing heat which desensitizes the hypothalamus gland which then cools the body (Heinerman, 1996, p. 127).

Have a great day!

I was up way too late last night.  My friend asked me to come over and my kids got all wired again so they didn't want to sleep.  The good thing was the slept all night and I didn't have to share my side of the bed with a micro-human!  Though, my daughter usually sleeps in the middle of the bed and she was right up against me all night.  At least we all got some good sleep! I got nothing done yesterday around the house.   My son went down for his nap and she asked me to color, even said please!  lol  We were coloring when he woke up crying from a tummy ache.  I wrapped him in a blanket to warm him up and he fell asleep with me rocking him and she fell asleep on my feet.  I didn't want to move him because I wanted to keep that blanket where it was.  The poor kid had a terrible gas bubble and man did I suffer for it!  LOL  At least it passed by the time he woke up and was a happy little boy again.   I didn't have any time to cook anything since he woke up at 6 so I threw in a pizza, great for such occasions!  Not very healthy, though.  Well, I have to get in there and get breakfast cooking. I leave you with a great herb below!

On to Cayenne!

Constituents: Capsaicinoids: capsaicin, dihyrocapsaicin, others; carotenoids (capsanthin, capsorubin, carotene), steroidal saponins –capsicidins in root and seed (Hoffman, 2003, p. 536). Chevallier (2016) adds flavonoids, volatile oil but differs with Hoffman on the capsicidins.  He says they are ONLY in the seeds. Capsaicin causes a cooling affect by first causing heat which desensitizes the hypothalamus gland which then cools the body (Heinerman, 1996, p. 127).

Therapeutic Actions: Stimulant, carminative, anticatarrhal, sialagogue, rubefacient, antimicrobial (Hoffman, 2003, p. 536). Chevallier (2016) adds in tonic, relieves muscle spasms (anti-spasmodic), antiseptic, increases sweating (there is a term for it but it’s evading me as I write this), and analgesic.

Indications: Stimulates blood flow, strengthens the cardiovascular system and nerves. Tones circulatory and digestive systems. May help with flatulent dyspepsia and colic. Wards off colds.  Externally, it can be used for lumbago and rheumatic pain. It can be used in moderation for unbroken chilblains. Gargle for laryngitis and is a good antiseptic wash. It has also been known to help with painful/itchy skin disorders – psoriasis, shingles, diabetic neuropathy and postmastectomy pain. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 536). Petersen, 2018, p 105, says for arthritis, rheumatism, and pain relief use externally - the infusion or ointment can be used here. For asthma, internal bleeding, blood pressure balance, circulatory problems, chills, colds, constipation, couch, cramps, dyspepsia, heart irregularities, hemorrhoids, lethargy, mucus, varicose veins and vomiting, Petersen says use the infusion, tincture or powder. For topical bleeding and wounds, you can use the infusion or powder. For cold extremities and chilblains, put the tincture on the affected area. Yep, that will work…  Just don’t get it in the eyes!!! For inflamed gums, put the powder in the area. For mouth ulcers, gargle the infusion or the tincture. If swallowing is a problem, make a lozenge 1-1.5 micrograms. For a toothache, put the tincture on a cotton ball and place it on the tooth.

Safety: Hoffman doesn’t mention any safety issues but I’d highly recommend washing your hands immediately after touching this because it is not compatible with eyes or children.  The proper way to dry these peppers is to hang them and let them dry in the sun.  Heinerman shared a funny story which was not so funny to those who experienced it.  The husband tried drying them in the microwave… The result was like filling the house with tear gas.  They got the kitchen cleared out then he went upstairs to nap and the fumes were “deadly”. They had to open the whole house and air it out. (Heinerman, 1996, p. 134)

Have a great day!

Been a busy day.  I got laundry going then we went to my VA appointment.  My daughter was more traumatized by me getting a pap than I was...  LOL They BOTH scream and cry when I visit the vampire.  They took 3 vials this time.  Yay.  I can't wait until my clinic gets a new location.  They have 2 doctors in my clinic over there and the exam rooms are tiny and hard for me to get a double stroller in with my little ones.  Doing this over video would also work since most of my visits are just me answering a bunch of questions to validate I'm doing well.  I did laugh when they asked if there was anything preventing me from taking care of myself.  I just looked at my kids and couldn't hold it in!  LOL  The dude who does inspections called in today so instead of driving around trying to find a shop that does them, I'll ask someone and see if there is a place around here and get it done on Monday when I get the other errands done.  I got the bathroom floor cleaned yesterday and scrubbed the dining room floor.  MUCH more to do.  I'm rewashing the clothes for storage.  If I can, I plan to get vacuum bags on Monday and put them in the shed.  My sister was going to come down and get these kids clothes for my niece so I don't want to give them away.

On to the constituents of Blessed Thistle!

Polyenes are antifungal agents, also called antimycotic (Ganora, 2009, p. 97).

Citral is the antiseptic property normally found in citrus oils. This constituent is the combination of two enantiomers which are gernaial and naral (Ganora, 2009, p. 136).

Cinnamaldehyde (phenylpropanoids) is an aldehyde particle where the aldehyde end is very polar and the other end is NOT polar. This means it's oil soluble but some small amount will dissolve in water. This property is antimicrobial (Ganora, 2009, p. 16, 68, 109, 139).

Constituents: Triterpenoids (alpha-amyrenone, alpha-amyrin acetate, alpha amyrine, multiflorenol acetate), lignans (trachelogenin, arctigenin, nortracheloside), and essential oils (para-cymene, fenchon)

Have a great day!