Semester 3, Week 4, Day 4

I decided on a topic of anti-microbial properties of Oregano.  After some digging, I understand why they push the oil and not the herb - there are a LOT of studies on the oil.  There are enough on the herb, though, to accomplish a paper.  I still need to do 2 other searches to make sure I have all of what's out there.  I only look for full studies so it cuts down on what's available.  I CAN order studies through school but I only do it if I need to.  The children are happily playing right now.  They like to fight over this big ball I bought a couple days ago so I'm happy she hasn't gotten it out yet!  No tinctures will be ready until Tuesday.  All of my bottles will be here by then.  Half my stuff will be here today, then most of the rest is slatted for tomorrow.  This makes me happy.  2 of the tinctures I have going for this semester.  I need to get another going but I don't have strong enough alcohol.  I do need to work on other labs.  It's week 4 and I only have 2 labs going.  I need to do 1 a week to keep up.   I'm still a bit tired today.  The words are not flowing well.       

Since my brain isn't working so well, let's see if I do better on the the constituents for yellow dock.

Anthraquinone Glycosides are laxatives that stimulate in the large intestines.  Higher doses can cause nausea, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dizziness, abdominal pain, and kidney damage so it is very important to not exceed the recommended dosage. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 201)

Tannins can damper some of the harsher effects of some contituents but excessive use of them can cause certain cancers.  In lab studies, they can inhibit fungi, yeast, bacteria and viruses.  They do inhibit some other cancers and are antioxidants. There are different kinds of tannins so the risks vary.  They are present in plants to protect them in various ways, depending on location. (Hoffman, 2003, p. 114-117, 201)

Emodin: All Hoffman says on this one is it is in Rumex and Rheum species and some lichen. (p. 98)

This concludes everything that's in Hoffman.  I don't expect to find too much more of these in the other books.  Often when the constituent is broken down into smaller bits, those smaller bits are not well defined if at all but I like to know as much as I can.  The more we know, the more tools we have to help others get better. Have a great day!

Constituents: anthraquinone glycosides (chrysophanol, emodin, nepodin, physcion, frangulin, and chrysophanein); oxalates.