THE HERBAL INDUSTRY

The herbal industry represents many products and product claims. Substantiating product actions, activities and claims is essential for consumers to know what they are purchasing and using. Many product ingredients and medicinal claims are a result of popular marketing efforts and represent formulas that are "copied" rather than created. Popularized product ingredients and formulas typically "copy" product benefits and claims without determining their actual scientific value and benefits. Each herb contains specific chemicals that make up actions and activities that, if understood, can be combined and formulated into effective medicinal products.

More Information: Why many herbal products don't work.

Amino Acid: organic acid found in proteins that make up cells in the body.

Analgesic: herbal substance that reduces or blocks pain in the body.

Anesthetic: herbal substance that reduces the body’s nerve sensitivity to pain.

Antiacne: herbal substance that inhibits or reduces acne growth on the body.

Antiallergic: herbal substance that reduces allergic reactions to the body.

Anticancer: herbal substance that reduces or eliminates cancer cells in the body.

Antidepressant: herbal substance that inhibits or eliminates the emotional state of depression.

Antimutagenic: herbal substance that inhibits or reduces cellular mutation or reproduction.

Antioxidant: herbal substance that prevents cellular damage from “free radicals.”

Antiradicular: herbal substance that reduces or prevents that growth of “free radicals.”

Antiseptic: herbal substance that prevents or inhibits microorganism growth.

Antispasmodic: herbal substance that reduces or prevents muscle or tissue spasms.

Antitumor: herbal substance that prevents or eliminates tumor in or on the body.

Antiulcer: herbal substance that reduces the risk of ulcers forming.

Antiedemic: herbal substance that reduces swelling or fluid retention to the body.

Antihistaminic: herbal substance that inhibits the release of histamine from tissue irritation.

Antibacterial: herbal substance that destroys or kills bacterial infections.

Antiinflammatory: herbal substance that reduces inflammation or swelling.

Antioxidant: herbal substance that prevents or reduces oxidation.

Antiviral: herbal substance that destroys or kills viral infections.

Astringent: herbal substance that constricts body tissues, fluids or secretions.

Diuretic: herbal substance that causes the elimination of body fluids.

Fungicide: herbal substance that inhibits or kills the growth of fungi.

Sedative: herbal substance that relaxes, numbs conscious awareness.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERBS

Anise: Roots used as a cathartic. Roots used as a stomach tonic.

Black Pepper: Used as an astringent. Used as a stimulus.

Wild Celery: Poultice of leaves applied for internal or external pain. Root is eaten as a preventative medicine. Plant used for most illnesses. Young stems are used medicinally. Plant is used to prepare sweat bath for localized pains. Used as a potherb.

American Wild Carrot: Decoction of plant taken for itching. Decoction of plant is taken for bites. Decoction of plant is taken for fevers.

Sage: Poultice of powdered plant used for swellings. Infusion of plant used to bathe body parts for rheumatism. Compound decoction of leaves boiled into a thick paste used as a salve or liniment for athletes. Decoction of plant is taken for stomach troubles and many other ailments.

Fennel: Used as a tonic. Strained decoction of seeds used as an eyewash. Used for colic and given to children for colic.

Wild Ginger: Poultice of fresh leaves applied to wounds. Roots used for medicine. Poultice of fresh, large, green leaves applied as an antiseptic to cuts and boils. Leaf ashes, and other ashes and nut juice used for cuts and skin sores.

Bitter Ginger: Leaf ashes, and other ashes and nut juice used for cuts and skin sores. Roots and other roots pounded with salt and used for itch and kindred afflictions of the skin. Roots with other plant parts mixed with water and used as a bath for bruises.

Juniper: Crushed plant used as a rub for rheumatism. Plant used medicinally. Plant used for warts. Plant used as "medicine for the stomach and bad medicine of wizards."

Lemon: Snuff of leaves and sneezeweed blossoms inhaled for headaches. Oily leaves rubbed on the skin for dryness. Plant used as a lotion and poultice of plant applied to itch and sores. Cold infusion of plant used as ceremonial chant lotion.

Sweet & Sour Orange: Prized for food and hunting materials. Medicinal values not well documented.

Yarrow: Leaves used for poultices. Poultice of chewed leaves applied to burns. Leaves pounded, heated and used for burns. Leaves pounded, heated and used for boils. Poultice of chewed flowers applied to swollen parts. Infusion of plant applied to sores. Decoction of root applied to skin "eruptions." Poultice of plant used for burns. Leaves crushed and used for wounds. Herb used as a disinfectant. Poultice of plant applied to bruises. Decoction used for washing sores and other skin problems. Poultice of leaves used on children's rash and fresh tops used to rub on eczema. Plants chewed and swallowed as "medicine for everything."

American Ginseng: Poultice of plant applied to bleeding cuts. Roots and other plant parts used as a general tonic. Plants used to effect cures where all others have failed. Used as a "universal remedy for children and adults." Herb highly valued as a cure-all. Decoction of roots used as a body rub and steam for joint swellings. Infusion of root applied to bleeding cuts or wounds. An "ingredient to relieve sharp pains in the breast."

Licorice: Infusion of roots applied to swellings. Roots used for "doctoring the sick." Infusion of roots taken as a tonic. Poultice of chewed root leaves applied to sore horsebacks. Root chewed and held in mouth for toothache. Poultice of steeped leaves applied to ears for earache. Decoction of root used as a cathartic. Poultice of chewed leaves applied to sores on horses.

Grape: Infusion of bark used as a wash for skin sores. Infusion of bark used as a wash for mouth sores. Used as a tonic. Poultice of leaves applied to painful area. Infusion of plant used to wash snakebites. Infusion of leaf taken "for blood." Decoction of roots taken for coughs. Decoction of roots taken for stomach disorders. Roasted, crushed roots used with sarsaparilla and mountain grape barks for rheumatism. Wilted leaves used to draw soreness from breast after birth of a child. Infusion of leaf is taken for the liver. Compound taken for "irregular urination." Decoction of leaves and stems is taken for headaches.

Jojoba: Poultice of parched, pulverized nuts applied to sores. Plant yielded oily food with cathartic qualities. Parched, charred berry charcoal rubbed on sores.

Rose: Infusion of roots used for sore eyes. Poultice of chewed leaves applied to bee stings. Leaves placed in moccasins for athlete's foot and possibly for protection. Compound decoction of root used on bleeding wounds. Compound infusion or decoction of root taken or used externally as stimulant. Compound decoction of root taken as a tonic. Infusion of fruit used as a wash for inflamed eyes. Poultice of charred, crushed hypertrophied stem growths applied to burns. Decoction of fruit used for itching piles or any other itch. Decoction of fruit used for itching piles. Decoction of fruit "hips" used as a wash for scabs and sores. Infusion of leaves and berries taken for pains.

HERBAL PRODUCT BENEFITS

Carrot: Excellent: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antiseptic antiviral, essential Amino Acids, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative. Good: analgesic, anesthetic, anti-allergic.

Grape: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-edemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-acne, anti-fungicide and antiviral. Good: analgesic, anti-allergic.

Celery: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative Good: anesthetic, anti-allergic, and antioxidant.

Basil: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, anesthetic, antibacterial, antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative.

Rosemary: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anesthetic, antiedemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative. Good: essential Amino Acids.

Dill: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and antiviral. Good: anti-edemic, anti-acne, fungicide and antihistaminic.

Yarrow: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative. Good: antiallergenic, and astringent.

Licorice: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-acne, fungicide and antiviral. Good: anesthetic, anti-allergic, and sedative.

Ginger: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antiallergenic, antibacterial, anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and essential amino acids.

Thyme: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative. Good: anesthetic, anti-allergic, anti-edemic, and anti-histaminic.

Juniper: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, and sedative. Good: analgesic, anti-acne, fungicide and anti-edemic.

Oregano: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antiviral, and sedative. Good: anesthetic, allergenic, anti-edemic, anti-acne, fungicide and anti-histaminic.

Fennel: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative.

Sage: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, anti-acne, fungicide and sedative. Good: allergenic, anti-edemic, and anti-histaminic.

Ginkgo: Excellent: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and fungicide. Good: analgesic, anti-allergic, anti-acne, and sedative.

Black Pepper: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, fungicide, and sedative. Good: anesthetic, and anti-acne.

Grapefruit: Excellent: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, fungicide, and sedative. Good: anti-acne, allergenic, analgesic, and antihistaminic.

Ginseng: Excellent: antibacterial, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antiseptic. Good: analgesic, anti-acne, anti-allergic, anti-edemic, anti-histaminic, antiviral, essential amino acids, fungicide, and sedative.

Lemon: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-histaminic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, fungicide, and sedative. Good: analgesic, anti-allergic, and anti-edemic.

Bay: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, fungicide, and sedative. Good: analgesic, anti-edemic, and anti-histaminic.

Orange: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, anti-acne, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, antiviral, fungicide, and sedative. Good: antiallergenic, anti-histaminic, and essential amino acids.

Anise: Excellent: allergenic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and fungicide. Good: analgesic, antiallergenic, anti-histaminic, antiviral, and sedative.

St Johns Wart: Excellent: allergenic, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-edemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and fungicide. Good: anti-histaminic and sedative.