Sandra M. Casciato ~ Wholistic Wellness Consultant

Sleep:  Valerian, Skullcap, Hops, Passion Flower, Poppy Seed & Lobelia.  An herbal sleep aid that provides support for getting to sleep faster and maintaining a healthy sleep cycle so you can wake up energized in the morning.

 Mood: St. John’s Wort, Kava Kava*, Rosemary, Skullcap, Gotu Kola & Cayenne.  Contains herbs that have been used to combat mood swings and emotional distress.

*Caution: FDA advises that a potential risk of rare, but severe, liver injury may be associated with Kava. Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have, or have had, liver problems, frequently use alcoholic beverages, or are taking any medication. Stop use and see a doctor if liver symptoms occur (unusual fatigue, abdominal pain, appetite loss, dark urine, pale stools, yellow eyes or skin). Not for use by persons under 18 years of age, or by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Do not take with alcoholic beverages. Excessive use may briefly impair ability to drive, or operate machinery.

All tinctures are made in a gluten-free grain alcohol base.  Herb/menstruum ratio: 1:4. 

Shake well before using. Take 25-40 drops, 2-4 times/day.

Consult your doctor if you are taking prescription medication.  Not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers.  Keep out of reach of children.

$13.00 for 2 oz. bottle; $25.00 for 4 oz. bottle (tax included)

Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgoaceae) is one of the oldest living species on the earth, dating back approximately 270 million years.  A single tree can live as long as 1,000 years and grow to a height of 120 feet. Ginkgo leaves contain special alkaloids called ginkgolides and one called bilobalide and two types of chemicals, flavonoids and terpenoids, which are believed to have potent antioxidant properties.  The chemical composition of this plant makes it a very powerful tool against numerous disorders, particularly those associated with degenerative aging and impaired microvessel blood flow.  Chinese herbal texts mention the use of ginkgo as a remedy for lung problems as far back as 1436.  Gingko was one of the only plants to survive the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan during World War II. 

Ginkgo has beenshown to significantly increase blood flow in all organs and tissues, including the brain and heart muscle.  It assists in bringing oxygen to the brain and has been shown to improve memory, concentration, mental alertness and mild mood disorders.  A number of studies have found that ginkgo has a positive effect on memory and thinking in people with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia.  A 1997 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded that ginkgo extract was effective in treating patients in the early stages of dementia associated with Alzheimers disease.⁶

Ginkgo is currently licensed in Germany for the treatment of cerebral dysfunction (short-term memory problems, dizziness, tinnitus) mainly in older people, and is used for heart and eye diseases, as well as accidents involving brain trauma.⁶

Laboratory studies have shown that ginkgo improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets.  It has been shown to be effective in preventing oxidation of LDL cholesterol, inhibiting arrhythmia in heart muscle and in the treatment of glaucoma/macular degeneration, chronic fatigue syndrome, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and sexual dysfunction.

Precautions: do not eat Ginkgo biloba fruit or seed.The safety of ginkgo in pregnant/nursing women and children is unknown and therefore is not advised.

Possible Interactions between ginkgo and prescription medications:

Gingko has about the same anticoagulating effect as one aspirin; therefore it is important not to combine with anticoagulant drugs.  Avoid combining this herb with seizure medications (anticonvulsants), antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - SSRIs), high blood pressure medications, aspirin, Ibuprofen, insulin and other diabetes drugs.

                         ~Wishing you love, peace, health & happiness in 2013!

REFERENCES

¹Christopher, John R., Herb Syllabus, Master Herbalist Guide.  Utah: Christopher Publications, 2010.

²Tillotson, Alan Keith, The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook.  New York: Kensington Publishing, 2010.

³Universtiy of Maryland Medical Center web site: www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginkgo-biloba-000247.htm.

₄”What is Gingko?” About.com.

⁵http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/herbsvitaminsek/a/Ginkgo.htm

⁶Trivieri, Jr., Larry and Anderson, John W., Alternative Medicine – The Definitive Guide, New York: Crown Publishing, 2002.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family ~ Zingiberaceae ~ which grows in the tropical regions of Southern Asia, particularly in India.  It is used as a main ingredient in curry, in mustard and to color butter and cheese.  The roots (rhizomes) and bulbs are used as medicine and food. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric and has a distinct earthy, slightly bitter flavor with a mustardy smell. 

Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for 4,000 years to treat a variety of conditions.  Here are the results of some recent research:

Curcumin lowers the levels of two enzymes in the body that cause inflammation. It also stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.¹

Curcumin inhibits the growth and metastasis of many cancers and stimulates the regeneration of bone marrow cells.³

Turmeric assists the neurological system’s healthy response to stress.⁴

Pretreatment with curcumin increases the effect of chemo and radiotherapy on cancer cells, according to researchers at the University of South Dakota.⁵

Curcumin seems to delay liver damage that can eventually lead to cirrhosis, according to preliminary experimental research at the Medical University Graz in Austria.⁵

The German Commission E, which determines which herbs can be safely prescribed in Germany, has approved turmeric for digestive problems.

Epidemiologists have hypothesized that turmeric, which is part of daily curries eaten in India, may help explain the lower rate of Alzheimer’s disease in that country (less than one-quarter that of the United States).⁵

Because turmeric is fat soluble, it should be taken with a healthy fat, such as olive oil.  Additionally, cooking destroys the enzymes in turmeric so it should be eaten raw or added to foods after cooking. Turmeric and curcumin are also available as supplements; however, whole plants are always preferred to isolates.

Contraindications: Check with your health care provider if you are taking blood-thinning medication, drugs that reduce stomach acid or diabetes medication before using turmeric or curcumin in medicinal forms, as turmeric may increase the effect of these drugs.  Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.

References

¹”Turmeric.” http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm.  University of Maryland Medical Center.

²”Turmeric.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turmeric.

³Ballock, Russell L., Natural Strategies for Cancer Patients. NY: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2003.

⁴Mercola, Joseph, D.O., “The Spice that Ignites Your Body’s Astonishing Immune System.”  http://organicindia.mercola.com/herbal-supplements/turmeric.aspx.

⁵Weil, Andrew, “Turmeric Health Benefits: Have a Happy New Year With Turmeric.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-weil-md/turmeric-health-have-a-happy-new-year_b_798328.html.

⁶Tillotson, Alan Keith, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay., The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook. NY: Kensington Publishing Corp., 2001.