How Can One Medicinal Herb Treat Opposite Symptoms?

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Did you ever wonder why many medicinal herbs are touted to help seemingly opposite symptoms? It seems illogical that a single herb tea can be used to treat both diarrhea and constipation.

Dr. Andrew Well, M.D. explains this very well in an article I read recently at Huffington Post.

Using the example of the coca leaf he studied while in South America, Dr. Well reports that the Andeans use the whole plant as their number one medicinal plant.

“They use it to treat gastrointestinal disturbances; specifically, for both diarrhea and constipation. From the perspective of Western pharmacology, this makes no sense.”

You would think that the simulative properties of the coca leaf, the source of cocaine, could stimulate the digestive system and help relieve constipation. But, diarrhea? Wouldn’t it just make that a whole lot worse?

The coca leaf has more than one property. While cocaine is present in the greatest amount, the coca leaf also contains 14 bioactive alkaloids. These alkaloids actually inhibit the activity of the digestive system.

So how do you know which property of a medicinal herb will affect your body? If you’re suffering from diarrhea, you really want to know before you ingest it.

According to Dr. Well, “The state of the body, which is a function of which receptors in the gut's tissues are available for binding. During my time in Andean Indian communities, I collected many reports about whole coca's paradoxical, normalizing effect on bowel function, and experienced it firsthand, as well.”

If the body is able to choose the herbal properties of the whole plant that it needs to help it heal and function properly, the body will utilize those properties.






All written content ©2010 Patrice Campbell unless otherwise noted.

Add a Medicinal Herb to Your Favorite Cup of Herbal Tea

Identifying the perfect blend of herbs for tea may take some time because once the perfect blend is found, you realize other herbs and spices can be added to give it the extra zing you sometimes need.

 Medicinal herbs can be added to tea bring relief on those sick days when you use herbal tea as a comfort drink. If the herb with the properties your body needs doesn't suit your taste, simply stir in a teaspoon of honey. It will sweeten the tea, mask the taste of the medicinal herb and soothe the throat.

Medicinal Herbs

• Headaches can be eased with equal amounts of thyme, rosemary and lavender.
• Yarrow, boneset, rosemary, lavender and thyme can all temporarily relieve the symptoms of colds and flu.
• When you're not feeling well, no matter what the cause, you can calm your nerves with a brew of marjoram, chamomile, thyme, sage or catnip.

The herb yarrow has been used to treat almost everything, so if you like the taste, try incorporating yarrow into your herb tea blend as well as your herb garden. It grows to a height of 2 to three feet, so plant it in a spot that will highlight your garden.

Boneset, an herb once listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia as an official medicine, tastes awful, but also has a list of medicinal herb uses. If you want to give the herb boneset a try, be prepared to use a lot of honey to mask the taste, or, if you drink a lot of tea, set aside the boneset decoction and add a bit at a time to each cup of your favorite fresh herbal tea.

One of the oldest herbal medicines is thyme. At one time it was used to prevent nightmares, and is still popular as a headache remedy.

And don't forget to visit the Herbal Tea Recipe Swap article to get ideas and share your favorite herbal tea recipes.

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Start your 2010 Herbal Journal

Did you get your seed catalogs? If not, they should be arriving any day. Pull out your graph paper and pencil and start redesigning your herb garden.


As you look through the seed catalogs, gardening magazines and websites take notes and keep them in a 3-ring binder so you have your own herbal journal. You can always add sections for recipes using herbs, an herb wish list, and tips on growing, using and preserving herbs.

Sub divide your sections so you can easily find information herbal cooking, medicinal herbs, herbal beauty products, potpourri recipes, essential oils and decorating with herbs.

Another way the herbal journal will come in handy is to record how well your herbs grew so that next year you can try planting them in a different area of the garden or perhaps purchase the herbs from a different vendor.

Don’t forget a section for thing you might try someday. For instance, if you think you might want to make homemade herbal sachets and pillows for gifts, you might want to keep track of ideas and tips as you find them. Here’s your first tip:

If you plan on making herbal Christmas decorations for next year, get out now and buy Christmas fabrics at a deep discount.

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